Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

We should acknowledge that the House, since the general election, has sat for 38% longer than was previously the case. The recess that is being proposed for this summer is the shortest that I certainly can recall, and I am in the House 22 years. The date originally proposed by the previous Government for the adjournment of the Dáil for the summer was 7 July and the date for resumption was 29 September. What we are talking about is a much shorter recess.

A number of Members have referred to the important meeting taking place today in Brussels of the Heads of State and Government. It is an important meeting that has been convened by President Van Rompuy. First, the fact that the meeting is taking place represents a significant achievement for this country and for the Government. For some time we have been seeking to have the debate about the debt crisis moved from being dealt with on a country-by-country basis to being dealt with on a European-wide basis, seeking a European solution to a European problem. The fact that we are at a point today where there is a summit meeting taking place which is addressing a European solution to that crisis represents a very significant achievement for the country, for the Government and for the diplomatic work that we have been doing over the course of the past four months or more in that area.

Second, I am sure everybody in the House will wish the Taoiseach well in the discussions taking place in Brussels today-----

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