An Opposition demand that the three-month Dáil adjournment be shortened was rejected by the Government. Opposing the Government's proposal to adjourn until September 26th, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he would not engage in the usual rant.
"I propose that the Dáil sit on September 11th on the grounds that the committees are not established before the House goes into recess for 12 weeks and a great deal of parliamentary work could be undertaken. I regret it has not been possible for committees of the House to perform their functions in July and the early weeks of September."
Supporting Mr Kenny, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said he did not propose to discuss in detail the reasons sittings should be resumed earlier than proposed, "as they are obvious and best set out by Deputy Sargent in column 1,208 of the official report of July 6th, 2006". He added that he fully supported everything Mr Sargent had said at the time. "I regret the House will rise without appointing committees. It is further evidence of the disrespect shown to the House and the rights of the Opposition," he said.
"Yesterday, for instance, the Taoiseach absented himself on one of the rare opportunities to be accountable to the House.
"The conference of trade unions lasted for four days, during which the Taoiseach would have been accommodated at any time, but he chose to attend at a time that coincided with Leaders' Questions."
He said that the Taoiseach would not attend to take parliamentary questions or the Order of Business, but he managed to get back to pose for photographs with candidates for the Seanad.
Tánaiste Brian Cowen said that given the timing of the elections in 1997 and 2002, it was not possible to constitute committees before the summer recess on those occasions either. "I am not in a position to take amendments to the Order of Business in respect of our return," he added.
