Last day for Dáil before summer recess

The Dáil rises today for its 11-week summer recess.

Parliamentary business will not resume again until late September.

A fresh crop of Senators will also be elected this month and will take up their roles when the Dáil returns.

The final legislation to be debated in the chamber today will be the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) Bill 2007.

The new Arts, Sports and Tourism Minister, Seamus Brennan, will also take questions from the Opposition.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is also expected to appoint chairmen to the Oireachtas Committees when the Dáil returns in September.

Mr Ahern’s last day in the chamber was on Tuesday and he was criticised by Fine Gael for being absent yesterday because he was addressing the Ictu biennial delegate conference in Co Donegal.