Government defends Christmas holidays

The Government’s deputy chief whip has defended the length of time TDs take for their Christmas holidays.

The Dáil adjourns for Christmas in two days’ time and TDs are not due back in the chamber until January 27th.

The Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dermot Clifford, recently criticised the length of this festive break, saying it was considerably longer than the holidays enjoyed by schoolchildren.

However, Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher said such comparisons were unfair because TDs would be attending committee meetings in early January.