TDs not ignoring Friday sittings, says Tánaiste

TÁNAISTE EAMON Gilmore has rejected any suggestion that Government TDs are ignoring Friday Dáil sittings.

Speaking in Galway yesterday where he opened the constituency office of Galway West Labour TD Derek Nolan, Mr Gilmore said it was not necessary for every TD to attend certain sessions of the Dáil.

“The purpose of Friday sittings was to give an opportunity for the first time to TDs other than Government Ministers to introduce legislation,” Mr Gilmore said.

“We took the view that the sole repository of wisdom as far as making new legislation should not [just] be government,” he said, and the Friday sittings gave TDs, particularly those in Opposition, a chance to bring forward their own legislative proposals.

“The second stage of those Bills usually takes place on a Friday,” he explained. “It is not necessary that every TD in the Dáil is present for a second stage Bill, whether it’s on a Wednesday or a Friday or whatever day it is,” he said.

Normally, party spokespersons and those TDs with a particular interest in the debate would attend.

“Leinster House is open on a Friday, it is staffed on a Friday, the building is open anyway,” he said, and “there would be work going on in any event”.