Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

This country is now facing some very big problems. We were in here earlier this afternoon talking about the aftermath of the rejection of the Lisbon treaty. We are now probably facing the biggest diplomatic challenge since the Second World War. Last week the live register went above the 200,000 mark. We have seen the biggest increase in unemployment over the last year in 40 years. Jobs are being lost in our economy at a rate of 235 a day, or 1,600 a week. On top of that, there has been a great change in our public finances. There was a €5 billion surplus two years ago, but there is a €1.5 billion deficit already this year. Our economy is heading for a recession.

Against that background, it is unthinkable that the Government is effectively proposing that the Dáil be closed for public business for three months of the summer. The Labour Party is proposing a motion in Private Members' business which would require that the House sit towards the end of July and return at the beginning of September. The Government has tabled an amendment to that motion which effectively provides for one extra week's sitting for statements on the national development plan. Against the scale of the problems we are facing, I do not think that is acceptable.

The people of this country are worried sick about jobs, businesses, rising prices and other problems. Can the Taoiseach explain why we are going to up sticks in the second week of July and not do any public business until the end of September? In circumstances where there has been a great erosion of confidence in political leadership in this country, does the Taoiseach not think that we ought to be here addressing the serious problems facing the nation, the consequences of last week's decision, and where we are going as a country?

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