Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We, too, believe we should be reconvening on 15 January. So many urgent challenges face our society. Indeed, we have just spent the bulk of this afternoon outlining what those challenges there, and I think there is actually agreement on that. Even the Government acknowledges the immense challenges, particularly on housing and healthcare, and the immense challenges that may indeed arise due to other issues and incidents. I spoke earlier about the Holyhead port closure and the enormous pressure that is putting on so many people and so many businesses over this Christmas period. Therefore, I simply do not believe it would be appropriate for us to delay convening this House again until so late in January. The date of 15 January was actually set by the previous Dáil. It is the date on which we had all anticipated we would be returning, and we frankly do not see a rationale for delaying beyond that.

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