Extra week off for TDs

TDs will have an extra week off from the Dáil after the Government forced through an extended Christmas holiday.

The Dáil was originally due to return on Wednesday, January 13, but will now not sit again until Tuesday, January 19.

There was the traditional row about the length of the holiday as the Dáil broke for Christmas yesterday.

Pointing to the fact that the British Houses of Parliament were returning to work on January 5, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said there was no justification for the extended Dáil holiday.

He said there was an expectation that the Government would pump up to €6bn more into Anglo Irish Bank next year.

That issue, coupled with the call by newly-appointed Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan for an inquiry into the causes of the banking crisis, were just two matters which needed to be urgently debated, he added.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said: “It is somewhat ironic the Government collapsed the pay talks with the trade unions over a proposal for additional leave and then come in here to propose an additional week’s leave for themselves.”

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin said the coalition had given an example of “anti-Government” by rushing through legislation in recent weeks while seeking to extend the Dáil break. But the Government won the vote by a comfortable margin of 13 votes.