TD salaries called into question

THERE would be no need for the unseemly rush to push through important legislation at the last minute if the Dáil took a responsible attitude to the time off it allows itself for holidays.

Last night saw our highly-paid parliamentarians burn the midnight oil to accommodate their three-month holiday arrangements, and in the process they did not devote adequate time to important bills such as the Criminal Justice Act, which has an incredible 800 amendments, or the Defence Amendment Act.

There are also a number of important reports due to come before the Dáil but which will now have to be deferred until it returns in the autumn.

There is no other job or occupation where workers would be allowed abandon important work to pamper themselves with exceptionally long holidays. There is no other job where it could be afforded.

It is time for the public to question the value it gets from a group of politicians who are paid, at the lowest rate, 100,000 and only sit two-and-a-half days when they are in the Dáil.

Since they returned last September, the Dáil has sat for only 95 days.