Oireachtas junkets - Number of trips has to be tackled

One could be forgiven for imagining that the Dáil very often represents a travel agency rather than our national parliament, which might explain why it also seems practically deserted in the television coverage.

Whatever about the international travel engaged in by our Taoiseach and his ministers in the course of government and official business, the amount of globetrotting undertaken by backbenchers and Senators of all parties seems ludicrous.

It would seem that they are very anxious to serve their country - especially if that service is to be conducted abroad.