Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I commend the Labour Party for putting down this motion. I have heard many debates on this matter over the years. Every Government and Opposition has always spoken about shorter holidays. In my 30 years in politics, however, I have never seen the economic indicators as bad. Is it not ironic that the Parliament, in which one would expect some leadership, will close on 10 July and not return until 1 October?

There was a lesson from last Thursday's referendum. All Members were out in solidarity with the "Yes" vote but were brushed aside. The people said they did not take us guys seriously. If politicians are to have any credibility in turning the economy around, it must start in the Parliament. Where else will the people's — both young and old — best interests be served other than in the Dáil? Instead, it has been decided to have a three-month holiday.

Some years ago there was no problem in recalling the Dáil for two days in the summer when Larry Goodman was in trouble. While there were important considerations in that case, how much more important are the 4 million people who are directly affected by what is happening in the economy? No Member can tell me there have not been occasions in the past when a Government felt it was important to recall the Dáil.

The Government wants to be in the Dáil as little as it can. The less accountability, the better. It simply wants to run and hide. After last Thursday's referendum result, however, there is not much room to run. Politicians must stand up and be counted.

Why can the Dáil not be recalled on 1 September? From a public relations' perspective, it would stop the press from commenting on us. The majority of Members do not want the long recess because we will be working in our constituencies regardless. It makes little difference to me if the Dáil sits longer, as I am at the job 51 weeks of the year. The public perception, however, is that Members are on holidays most of their lives. We play to that image by taking the Government's official line, closing the Dáil for three months in the middle of the summer. Few people have avoided being adversely affected this year and one would have to be a hermit living on the top of Croagh Patrick with neither a car nor proper food nor using services of any description. Everybody else will be hit. The service industry will be hit because people's purchasing power is falling and people are losing their jobs in service industries. Inflation has risen and it is difficult to obtain a mortgage from a bank. A young couple came to me today and it is difficult to believe but the bank's reason for refusing to give them a mortgage on this occasion was because the planning permission on their site was more than three years' old. If this is the kind of carry-on our young people must put up with this year and the 166 TDs, including Ministers, leave here for three months this summer, the next time a referendum is held, we will be given an even greater mauling.

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