TDs’ holidays - Dáil’s long Christmas is all humbug

SIX weeks holidays at Christmas! No wonder voters take such a jaundiced view of politicians and politics.

With thousands of workers counting themselves lucky to get four weeks in the year, it is unconscionable that TDs should give themselves a hike of another week, breaking from December 15 to January 31.

Only teachers compete with politicians in the holiday stakes — and, to be fair, they generally work harder and suffer greater stress in the classroom while TDs bask in the relative comfort of Dáil Éireann.

Naturally, the opposition parties are furious. Besides reform of the house and shorter holidays, they want extra sitting times for legislative business — which is why TDs were elected in the first place.

A cynic might be tempted to suggest the opposition are putting on a show just for the optics, knowing the coalition will defeat them if it comes to a vote.

Their long holidays are indefensible and yet, without batting an eyelid, politicians claim to work so hard they only have Christmas Day with their families.

The nation’s heart bleeds.