Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The Green Party opposes this proposal and supports the motion to which Deputy Stagg referred. I do not want to delay the Tánaiste any longer from going to speak on European matters at the forum but it is important for him to bear in mind at the forum that we do not compare well to other European countries when it comes to sitting days in this House and the way we conduct our business. Against the backdrop of escalating crime levels, it does not send out the right signal. I mentioned the signal sent out by the carbon fund Bill. Our approach generally gives the impression of "cut and run" and it is an admission of defeat.

The Dáil should resume earlier and sit for longer. There is no excuse for not doing that. Other workers are busy and many of them will be lucky to be off work for the period from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day. There is an important accountability lesson to be learnt that the Government has not learnt. This parliament should have the same number of sitting days as other European parliaments, and as Westminster in particular, with which we deal more often than with other parliaments. That, for me, is a benchmark.

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