Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

There has been much comment in the past couple of days about the number of Ministers who are travelling abroad to attend St. Patrick's Day functions and how far they are travelling and so on. My view is that the St. Patrick's Day events are of enormous value to this country. That the country is the focus of attention on a worldwide basis for a day or two is of value, and it is of value that the Government is represented at such events. However, there is evidence that some members have been tearing the rear end out of it. Attention needs to be given to that issue.

With regard to the proposed recess, that St. Patrick's Day and Easter fall together is a rather unusual calendar coincidence. My main concern about recesses is not so much the forthcoming recess but the unreasonable recesses the House takes, at the Government's insistence, at Christmas and during the summer. While I do not propose to make a fuss about the manner in which the Easter recess falls this year, I give notice that if the Government has in mind that the House will rise at the beginning of July and not sit again until the end of September, the Labour Party will create one hell of a fuss.

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