Dáil summer holidays - Excuses for long break ring hollow

MERCS, perks, fat salaries and index-linked pensions - what more could Government politicians desire? Three months holidays every summer, naturally.

As TDs decamped for 12 weeks in the sun yesterday, the seasonal row erupted over the length of the break.

But despite Opposition calls for shorter holidays, the Government voted down a Green Party proposal to have the Dáil return from its summer sojourn at the start of September.

This means parliament will be put on ice until 29 September.

Defending the indefensible, Defence Minister Micheal Smith claimed the Government is not going on holidays, that committees will be sitting this month and in September, and the only time off is in August.

He even had the gall to claim calls for shorter holidays belittled politicians.

Nobody would begrudge politicians reasonable holidays. But there is no rational explanation why the House should not reconvene before the autumn.

As Labour’s Pat Rabbitte pointed out, major legislative issues are outstanding including the Disability Bill which collapsed and has not yet been re-introduced.

Putting this scenario in context, Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton claimed only nine of the 19 bills promised for the current session had been published.

For the members of the House to go to the seaside with so much work undone is not good enough.

Lest there be any misconception, we should remember that TDs who attend committee hearings are entitled to draw down generous expenses.

For ministers and TDs on the gravy-train to take three months holiday beggars belief.

No wonder people are cynical about politics.