Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

While I do not intend to divide the House on this issue, yesterday 20 Ministers were already abroad on so-called St. Patrick's Day duty and today 27 Ministers are already abroad. This is not a question of taking a brief recess to attend functions. We are now seeing Ministers leaving their Dáil duties for three weeks at a stretch. This is not the way business should be done here. We all accept that people need to attend important events. The taxpayer may look on and ask whether it will make any difference to have all these Ministers absent but the trouble is they will have some carbon offset headache to pay for when they come back. This is getting somewhat out of hand. Traditionally, the House always sat in Holy Week. The Government is continually fraying the edges and not respecting the House in the way it should. We have had no legislation for much of the period of this Dáil term and now Ministers skive off at the first opportunity. We need to take a look at ourselves. Resources are short. We should be using our time more effectively.

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