THE GOVERNMENT and Opposition are at odds over the decision that the Dáil will sit for an extra week in early July.
The extension of the sitting year was announced ahead of a Labour Party private members’ motion on the length of time the Dáil sits.
The development was made known yesterday afternoon, when the Government tabled a counter-motion that disclosed that the Dáil will not now rise for its summer recess at the end of June, but rather at the end of the first week of July.
It immediately met with sharp criticism from both Fine Gael and Labour. Fine Gael described the extra sitting week as “tokenism” while Labour said it was stretching credulity to portray it as a proper sitting week.
However, Government Chief Whip Pat Carey last night said it would be an ordinary sitting week. Neither did he rule out the possibility that there will be leaders’ questions with Taoiseach Brian Cowen.
“There will be a statement around the economy, as we will be officially publishing the mid-term report,” he said.
“We will also have the charities legislation as well as having the normal order of business. It’s not a week of tacking on of additional stuff.
“As yet there is no decision on leaders’ questions. We have not yet got down to the final detail,” he said.
A Fine Gael spokesman said that the extra week was an empty gesture in the face of the absence of meaningful Dáil reform.
A Labour spokesman said that Opposition whips have yet to receive assurances on leaders’ questions and the ordinary business one would expect when the Dáil is in session.
Green Party whip Ciarán Cuffe welcomed the announcement, saying it was a positive step towards Dáil reform.
“The Dáil will be extending its sitting schedule to take account of the very pressing issues now facing the country. We missed a week as result of the Lisbon Treaty referendum, and I know that deputies from all parties are keen to allow the House enough time to discuss the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty and substantial changes in the economic climate including increasing energy costs,” he said.
“The Green Party has long pushed for reform of Dáil sitting time, and I believe that the extra week is a step in the right direction.”
Extra week in Dáil is not enough for angry Gilmore: Page 8