Opposition sends out Mayday about extended Dáil break

DÁIL SKETCH:SOME PRACTICES remain constant, even in these dark days.

Take the Dáil, for instance.

A tradition dating back decades means that the Oireachtas does not sit on Tuesdays in the aftermath of a bank holiday weekend.

It returns, instead, to its deliberations on Wednesday afternoon, having had Tuesday to recover from the long weekend.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, in line with practice, proposed the adjournment until 2.30pm next Wednesday on yesterday’s Order of Business.

Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton objected, arguing that these were exceptional times and traditional practices had to be re-examined.

He said so many issues were pressing on Government and Oireachtas time that the practice of having an extra day following bank holidays should be removed. Such practices were apt to give scandal in the eyes of the people.

He was supported by Labour’s Joan Burton and Sinn Féin’s Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

Government backbenchers, feeling the heat on the European and local election trail, looked glum.

Repeating that it was the tradition not to sit on post-bank holiday Tuesdays, Lenihan suggested that the matter could be reviewed by party whips.

Pressed to a vote, the Government had a comfortable majority of 62 votes to 51.

Earlier, Fine Gael’s James Bannon wanted an emergency debate on the economy.

He said in the spirit of Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the perceived architect of the country’s misfortune seemed unable to act constructively or decisively. It was increasing the threat to national stability.

He was ruled out of order.

Joan Burton referred to today’s payout of €27 million to building society executive Michael Fingleton. How could the Government explain it to ordinary, hard-pressed families?

“May Day is workers’ day, but it is pay day for Fianna Fáil’s friends,” she declared.

Lenihan sipped a glass of water, while the backbenchers saw it as an issue to be avoided on the potentially treacherous electioneering doorsteps.

And so TDs headed for their constituencies yesterday afternoon, free of the Oireachtas but privately concerned about a Mayday distress signal from an angry public.