TDs and senators due back to work today

TDs and senators are due back to work after their Christmas holidays today, with 28 Dáil committee meetings scheduled to take place before the Dáil resumes normal sittings on January 20.

The education and science committee is occupying the Dáil chamber today, with members due to discuss proposed new legislation on the provision of education for disabled people.

Other committees are also due to meet in the coming two weeks to discuss the Barron Report into the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the ethics of stem cell research and proposed legislation aimed at paving the way for the privatisation of Aer Lingus.