TDs devote three extra hours to saving the nation

DAIL SKETCH:Decision to resume business on Wednesday morning is a defining moment in our history, writes MARIE O'HALLORAN

TAKE a bow Dáil Éireann. That noble House faces a truly defining moment in the nation’s history. Yet another one. Those defining moments are now so frequent, they are like confetti at wedding. But this truly defining moment is one with a difference.

Indeed, it is at once a challenge and an opportunity. In fact, this moment is actually three hours.

But oh, what glorious hours they will be – of extra productivity from the Dáil. Mock not the mention of the Dáil and productivity in the one sentence.

The nation may be hanging on by its fingertips. That €50 billion may be lost and gone forever. Cork will have to do without Seán Óg and Manchester Utd may be convulsed about the fate of Wayne Rooney.

But fear not, for the members of Dáil Éireann will do their duty. Yes those courageous (mainly) men and women will brave the Dáil at the cursedly early hour of 10.30am next Wednesday, rather than their normal post-bank holiday return of Wednesday afternoon.

Really, their effort in the national interest is without parallel.

And they couldn’t possibly be asked to return any sooner. After all, a day’s rest is needed after a bank holiday.

And sure there’ll be no rest at all for the Cabinet. Imagine the effort they will be making for the nation by holding a Cabinet meeting on bank holiday Monday.

Turning up on Monday evening at Farmleigh. Government Buildings’ surrounds will be choc-a-bloc on Monday with all those marathoners and their supporters.

Imagine the delay in proceedings in trying to get all 15 Cabinet Ministers in their ministerial Mercs and Lexuses and of course their Priuses through those crowds.

Not forgetting the two super junior Ministers, also in their State-provided cars and guards. But they will work through dinner and again all day, presumably, on Tuesday, but this time at Government buildings.

As Tánaiste Mary Coughlan explained to the Dáil yesterday “the Government will be meeting on Monday and Tuesday”.

She said: “And it’s because of this we wish to return on Wednesday morning.”

They’re going to discuss “our four-year budget and growth plan”. And in case people thought they hadn’t given much thought to this issue, she pointed out that in the past two years there had been an “adjustment” – don’t ever say cut, it might upset people – of almost €14.5 billion.

The Government wants further time for the “consideration and development” of that four-year plan and proposes to sit on Wednesday and Thursday instead, she reasonably explained.

And yes, it would be too much to suggest that the Dáil might consider sitting instead next Friday.

Oh, what a shocking suggestion! And don’t even think of saying the all-day Cabinet meeting could be held today for instance.

No point getting all those tough decisions out of the way so that the bank holiday could be enjoyed, to an extent at least, before returning to the fray of a two-day debate on the economy on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Labour’s Joan Burton was utterly unreasonable to ask the Dáil to return at the normal 2.30pm time on Tuesday, or to even ask the Government to consider “the example we are giving by not returning at lunchtime on Tuesday”.

Never mind that “most people will be back at their desks at 8am or 9am” on Tuesday.