Quinn asks for extended Dail discussion on Nice

Leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruari Quinn has requested that the Dáil remain in session next week following completion of Nice…

Leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruari Quinn has requested that the Dáil remain in session next week following completion of Nice debates to discuss other developments and cutbacks in the piplines.

In a letter addressed to the Taoiseach, Mr Quinn blamed the perceived lack of democratic accountability in regard to EU matters as "one of the factors that contributed significantly to the defeat of the Nice referendum last year".

"Surely a refusal of the government to now be accountable to the Dáil on domestic matters can only do further damage to public confidence," he added.

Mr Quinn said that when the Dáil made its decision on June 27th to adjourn until October 9th, "the government withheld from the House information on the major programme of cutbacks that had at that stage already been agreed by the government".

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"We know that there are other cuts that are yet to be announced," he said.

"I believe it would be unthinkable for the Dáil to adjourn on September 11th for a further period of a month," he said. "I am urging the government to agree to this proposal".