Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I record the Labour Party's objection to the fact that the Dáil will not sit again until 30 January 2008. That is the latest date for the return of the House since 2002. For instance, in 2004 the Dáil returned on 20 January. The tradition of the House not returning until the end of January goes back to when the budget was announced at the end of that month and the logic at the time was the Government needed the month of January to prepare the budget. Clearly that does not apply anymore and there is no justification for the Dáil not returning until the end of January. There is a strong case for it returning earlier next year.

For example, because of the way St. Patrick's Day and Easter fall next year, there will only be 20 days in the next session. The Taoiseach has repeatedly stated that Bills will be published before the next session. The A list contains 13 Bills that are due to be published before the beginning of the next session and, presumably, they will have to be taken in that 20-day period. This follows a year in which we have sat for only 76 days. Even allowing for the election, that is probably a record low in the history of the House. The Labour Party is opposed to the adjournment of the Dáil until 30 January 2008.

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