Dail sat for 94 days last year, 'Bulletin' shows

Dáil Eireann sat for 94 days while the Seanad had 79 sitting days last year, according to the first issue of the Parliamentary Bulletin.

Some 31,514 parliamentary questions were asked in 2001 while 357 private notice questions on issues of urgent public importance were tabled and 22 were dealt with.

The Bulletin, launched yesterday by the Government chief whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, details the workings of the parliament, including the debates conducted, the membership and sitting days of committees and the work completed during the year, as well as the trips undertaken by members of the Oireachtas.

After the 72-page first issue, which covers the entire year, future bulletins will be on a quarterly basis.

Other measures listed in the publication include the number of Bills initiated (69) and those enacted (55).

It also lists the names of all the members of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body.

Among the trips undertaken by parliamentarians was a visit by five TDs and two senators, led by the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Seamus Pattison, to Egypt in January last year.