Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I agree with what Deputy Kenny has said. This House should be back on 7 January. When he was replying to me earlier the Taoiseach indicated the Government would be back on 7 January. He outlined that some Ministers have overseas commitments, which I understand, and that can be facilitated in the normal course of how we do our business.

It is important there is public confidence in politics. A Dáil recess up to the end of January will scandalise the public. Here we are in the middle of an economic problem and the Dáil is going into recess until the end of January. The history of Dáil recesses to the end of January goes back to a time when the budget was at the end of January. The rationale for it was that the Dáil did not come back after the Christmas recess until the end of January because the Government was dealing with the budget and needed time to prepare the budget. That no longer applies. There is no justification whatever for a recess up to the end of January.

I support what Deputy Kenny has said. The House should be back in business on 7 January. I support also his opposition to the Order of Business unless the Taoiseach can give us an assurance on the matter.

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