Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree that we should meet next Thursday. It is vitally important. There are workplaces that are not essential but the Dáil is very necessary. It needs to be in place to hold the Government to account and to make Government accountable for its actions. Whether that is the part-time or caretaker Government that we have now or a new Government, the Dáil has to meet. That should override any other consideration. I know we can do it in a way that protects staff here as well and have a minimal number of staff here. That is vitally important too but I do not think it outweighs the importance of the actual Members of the Dáil itself.

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