Opposition criticises extra Dáil day off

THE GOVERNMENT was accused of “running away” from its problems and of taking an extra day off by adjourning the Dáil until Wednesday next week, after the bank holiday weekend.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan failed to respond to Opposition allegations that the Government was using every excuse to avoid accountability to the Dáil.

She also declined to answer calls for the House to sit on Tuesday to discuss urgent business on the EU financial crisis, Anglo Irish Bank, job losses at Quinn Insurance and the carbon levy.

The Government won the vote on the issue by 69 to 61 and the Dáil will resume at 2.30pm on Wednesday.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said there was no reason, other than a long-outlived tradition, that the House should not return on Tuesday. There were “very serious matters” to be discussed, including reports from the European Commission on the Government’s attitude towards Anglo Irish Bank and the EU financial crisis, he said.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said there was “no justification whatever” for taking an extra day. “There are any number of things which this House could and should be dealing with, apart altogether from the long list of legislation that the Government has promised and not delivered on.”

He said the only reason for the extra day was that the Government was taking every opportunity and excuse to be out of the House so it wouldn’t be answerable to the Dáil.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said it was “absolutely incredible” that the Dáil would vote itself a day in lieu of a bank holiday on Monday.