Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It is not agreed. I made the point yesterday that people who are lucky enough to have a job get a week's holidays at Christmas. In his statement yesterday, the Taoiseach announced the Government would be back in business on 7 January, as would the Dáil committees. There is no reason the Dáil itself should not also meet on 7 January. Therefore, I propose that Members should reject the date of 27 January. At a time of national crisis, when 10,000 people in the private sector are losing their jobs every month, it is perverse and outrageous that the Government can propose that the Dáil will not reconvene until 27 January.

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