O'Hanlon prescribes rest during recess

The Dáil is to return in January a week earlier than expected with a debate on Ireland's EU presidency, oncology services and legislation on recruitment of civil servants and criminal justice.

On the final day until January 20th, the Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny, welcomed the recess after a "difficult session" while the Ceann Comhairle, a medical doctor, advised deputies to take a rest during the recess.

Dr Rory O'Hanlon said he knew how hard they worked in the Dáil. "I also know how hard deputies work outside the House when the Dáil is not sitting and how hard they work in their constituencies." He knew there were TDs who "do not take any holiday even when the House is not in session. My advice to deputies - I put my medical hat on as I often do on these occasions - is to take some time and have a break. It is necessary to ensure good health in the coming year."

Mr Kenny said he wished the Government well for its EU presidency, recalling Fine Gael's 1996 presidency as a "challenging, arduous and strenuous six months".

During a debate that was by turns convivial and argumentative, the Opposition criticised the early return of the Dáil as a "sham" because it would be a week of "Friday sittings" with no Order of Business, questions, private members' business or votes.

The labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, welcomed the early return and said there "is no point pretending this Chamber is a factory producing widgets, and parliamentary parties need to prepare for the Dáil term".

However, he "profoundly objected" to the Dáil being a "week of Fridays". This, he said "does a disservice to the Dáil and compounds the often ill-informed criticism of how the Dáil orders it business."

Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Féin's leader in the Dáil, asked for the House to sit later and said the Opposition would "effectively be muzzled" in its attempts to bring the Taoiseach and Ministers to account.

But the Minister for Defence described the calls as "humbug". He said the committees would be sitting on January 5th and there would be 28 sessions during January. TDs did a "disservice to themselves and this House by undermining the work of these committees, by playing them down so they can say members are not working".