Greens slam Govt attitude to Friday Dáil sittings

The Green Party has accused the Government of devaluing Irish democracy in the way it arranges Friday Dáil sittings.

The Dáil is due to sit tomorrow to debate legislation, but the entire Government front bench will be absent and no questions will be taken.

Speaking in the chamber today, Green Party leader Trevor Sergeant said that under the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats coalition, the Dáil had degenerated into a sham, with the Government making all major decisions behind closed doors.

"The Government doesn't even have to bother being here," he said.

"They simply open up, turn on the lights, allow people to come in here and then they get on with what they would see as the real business of government - the moving and the shaking behind closed doors. This place is left to carry on the semblance of a parliament without the power of a parliament."