Dáil goes on Christmas break until January 12
The opposition made their traditional demand for an earlier return, saying it was important the Government could get remaining legislation out of the way speedily so that an election could be called.
“The rest of the country will be working next week,” Fine Gael deputy leader James Reilly said.
“We are prepared to do so to help pass legislation and discuss and debate it, and return early in January in order that at the end of January (the) Green Party… will be able to keep their word to the people of this country and have an election in February.”
But Tánaiste Mary Coughlan rejected the calls, saying the Government was already bringing the Dáil back almost a week sooner than originally planned.
“The previous proposal was that the House would return on January 19. It was decided the House would resume on January 12, which is much earlier than in previous years,” she said.
“We have had a considerable number of sittings and a considerable number of bills have been introduced and dealt with by the House,” Ms Coughlan added, in defence of this year’s legislative programme.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore queried when the Finance Bill would be published, as the Taoiseach has signalled his intention to call the election once that legislation is passed. But Ms Coughlan said she was not in a position to say when the bill would be published.
In one of the final acts of the session, Green leader John Gormley published the Carbon Budget and announced details of the proposed climate change bill.
Mr Gormley said he believed the bill represents a milestone step forward for climate policy in Ireland.
The full text of the bill is expected to be approved at next week’s Cabinet meeting and brought before the Dáil next month.
