Dáil will not take mid-term break next week

The Dáil has voted to scrap its own mid-term break.

The Dáil's own business committee had voted not to sit next week - even though the Government Chief Whip, Regina Doherty, wanted it to.

But the week off was then rejected by Fianna Fáil - forcing the government to vote against its own proposal.

It means TDs will work for two days next week - but Deputy Doherty says it's what she wanted all along:"A member of the committee said where was the mid-term break, I said that I didn't feel that we should have one on the basis that we have a fairly large legislative program to pass between now and Christmas.

"I was overruled and told that we should have one, I came back the following week with the schedule, and rather than actually diminish the Dáil's sitting days by two and a half days, I added them on to Christmas week."