Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Whatever about previous years there is no justification for the House adjourning until 19 January this year. These are not normal times and this should not be treated as business as usual. Unemployment figures released yesterday show that approximately 185,000 more people were unemployed last year than in the previous year - 142,000 men and 42,000 women. We had figures yesterday showing that emigration is back to the levels of decades ago, with 60,000 emigrating last year. We have had information this morning that the country's GNP was down 11.3% this year. We are in an economic crisis and we should not be adjourning until 19 January. At the very least the House should be back on the date originally agreed, which was 13 January.

The Taoiseach has a reputation as a man who does a lot of reading. I would like to recommend something to him to read over the Christmas period.

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