Two-day sitting of Dáil next week comes under fire

THE week’s work will begin at 2.30pm on Wednesday. The Taoiseach won’t be present to answer questions and no votes will be held. Yet, the Government has defended next week’s Dáil agenda.

When this year’s calendar was drawn up, it was originally envisaged that the Dáil would not sit at all next week. That changed following a combination of opposition criticism and discussions between the Government chief whip John Curran and the Taoiseach.

The Dáil will sit next week, but due to the bank holiday, it won’t begin until 2.30pm on Wednesday. It will shut again at close of business on Thursday evening.