Dáil sat 76 days this year

The Dáil adjourned for Christmas yesterday, and will return on Wednesday, January 30th. The Seanad sits today, then it will adjourn until late January.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the Dáil had sat for just 76 days this year. "Even allowing for the election, that is probably a record low in the history of the House."

The tradition of returning in late January occurred because the budget used to be announced in late January "and the logic at the time was the government needed the month of January to prepare the budget. Clearly that does not apply anymore . . ."

The recess was, however, agreed without a vote.