TDs can't contain excitement at three-months' holidays

The Government sailed into the summer recess yesterday captained by a dour Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.

The Taoiseach does not do Thursdays and Fridays in the Dáil anymore, and the Tánaiste is an erratic visitor. So it was left to Mr Cowen to see the end of the parliamentary term on behalf of the Coalition.

Mr Cowen is nothing like the old confrontational Fianna Fáil politician of ardfheis fame. Nowadays, he sits on the Taoiseach's bench with a world-weary expression as if he is a man contemplating the day when he will, indeed, be the real Taoiseach.

He sat in front of Government TDs who behaved like excited schoolchildren ready for their summer break while the Opposition made valid points about how the long Dáil adjournments are fuelling public cynicism about politics. Some later privately recalled that Dáil reform was a fundamental tenet of PD policy in the party's early idealistic days.

Yesterday, in the face of Opposition criticism, Mr Cowen spoke about the work of the committees which, he said, would continue this month and September. The Cabinet, he assured everybody, would continue working until August.

"Since September 2004, we have published 30 Bills and enacted 22 Bills while 10 Bills were awaiting the President's signature," he declared. "In legislative terms, this indicates that the work of the House, while not meeting unanimous approval, as is the nature of any democratic assembly, has been done during this period." Mr Cowen, well known for his keen sense of humour, managed to keep a straight face. Earlier, he had been briefed by his Chief Whip Tom Kitt who sits behind the Taoiseach's seat.

Mr Cowen said that the "predictable" attempt by the Opposition to suggest that the country was not doing well had been counteracted by the ESRI report, published yesterday, confirming that the Republic had the fastest growing economy in Europe.

"What about the quality of life issues?" queried the Green Party's TD, Paul Gogarty.

Mr Cowen went on. "People in this country are being educated to the highest standards and are getting jobs commensurate with their abilities.

"We have an economy that is outperforming all our competitors in Europe and that is significant enough to defend the record of the Government."

The rank-and-file Government TDs, still behaving like excited schoolchildren awaiting their holidays, managed to keep straight faces. The Opposition strongly resisted the adjournment of the Dáil, but the Government had a majority of 59 votes to 49.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, in a state-of-the-nation address, noted that 270 people were on trolleys in the country, with 150 in Dublin alone.

"The roof has blown off a building that cost €62 million and underneath it, five million litres of water are leaking away every month, but we are told it represents good value for money," he added.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent also waded in, in opposition to the long Dáil adjournment.

Later, there were well-deserved tributes to usher Ray Hesse who retires later in the summer.

The House then adjourned until 2.30pm on Wednesday, September 28th.