The Oireachtas is set to take an unexpected extra week of holidays in June despite the refusal of the Opposition parties to agree to the move, writes Mark Brennock.
The Government parties are justifying their plan not to sit in the week after the June Bank Holiday weekend on the grounds that the Dáil will sit on Friday this week and next. The Chamber normally sits from Tuesday to Thursday only.
The Dáil will therefore sit on Thursday May 29th before taking a break until Tuesday June 10th.
It is expected to sit for just four weeks after that before breaking on Friday July 4th until the end of September.
Fine Gael's party whip Mr Bernard Durkan said yesterday the Government had informally told the Opposition of its plans, and they would be opposed by Fine Gael.
Labour's whip Mr Emmet Stagg said the Government had put forward a list of legislation which it said there was not enough time to deal with.
"Yet we are now going to go off again a mere four weeks after a three week Easter break.
"I don't think that can be justified."