Anger as Dáil votes itself an 11-week break

The Dáil today voted itself an 11-week summer recess amid rowdy scenes between Government and opposition benches.

Parliamentary business will be adjourned this afternoon until September 24, although Oireachtas Committees will continue to sit at either side of its August break.

Opposition finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the Government had no strategies to deal with unemployment, inflation or the lack of competitiveness.

“This is not a time to be adjourning the House. Clearly this Government is running for cover and they remind me of a cork bobbing helplessly on the ocean.”

Last month Labour tabled a motion calling on the Dáil to continue until the end of July and to return in early September.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said today: “This Government is lazy and incompetent and is running for the bunker.”

Citing the economic crisis and delays caused by radar malfunctions at Dublin Airport, he added: “The proposal to close down the Dáil in the circumstances that the country finds itself in, is simply unacceptable.

“As we are in here, there are passengers at Dublin Airport who don’t know when their flights are going to leave. This is the second day of chaos.

“The country is actually becoming a disgrace. We have a bad economic situation. We have a Government that doesn’t know what to do about it. It now wants to run away and get back in the bunker and introduce cuts over the next few months.

“When people are out at the airport, can’t get in or out, and the Government wants to close down the Dáil until the end of September.”

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said the Government will continue to run the country and to hold Cabinet meetings in the weeks ahead.

“The Government will continue to govern.”

She added: “It is nonsensical to believe, as Fine Gael does, that international factors have had absolutely no impact on our economy.”

Meanwhile Government ministers will continue to contribute to today’s debate on the National Development Plan and the economy.