Next week's Dáil recess was sharply criticised by the Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte. The House adjourns tomorrow for more than a week.
Mr Rabbitte challenged the Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, to justify the adjournment. "Is it not the case that there are 11 Bills on the Government's schedule of promised legislation, yet the House rises next week?"
He asked if there was any appreciation within the Government of the damage being done to the standing of the Dáil by the manner in which the House organised its business.
"Is there any appreciation on the Government side of the irritation caused to so many deputies by the constant sniping in the media about the manner in which we organise our business? The irritation is due, at least in part, to the fact that we know it is true."
Mr Rabbitte said that the irritation among deputies seeking to do the job as best they could was a more understandable emotion than the cynicism that apparently afflicted the Government, believing there was no need to pay any attention to what the media said as they would say that anyway.
"As a result, it does not do anything and goes on as before. While there have been many changes in this society since the first Dáil, if the members of that Dáil were to come back, they would be perfectly comfortable with the procedures we apply."
Ms Hanafin said that any change members brought about in operating the business of the House would be done because of the wishes of the members, not because anybody else dictated it.
"That is why the responsibility for this lies not with Government or Opposition but with the whips of the various parties. Anything we do must be done by agreement between us."
She added that Mr Rabbitte might be right, and perhaps there was a lack of appreciation among some elements of the media about what they did.
"I am sure Deputy Rabbitte would agree that that does not apply to the political correspondents who operate within the confines of this House and see exactly the amount of work carried out by all members, and the dedication and commitment they apply to their work."
Oireachtas committees would meet next week, she added.
"Members of this House constantly ask that increased recognition be given to the work of those committees and a good time to do that is when the Dáil is not sitting in plenary session."
The Fine Gael Chief Whip, Mr Bernard Durkan, said that every time he saw the words "Dáil reform" he became concerned.
"There have been a number of reforms since I was first elected to the House, which appear to have left us worse off in the eyes of the public and the media."
He added that he had circulated a paper last April relating to Dáil procedures.
Ms Hanafin said that some of the elements of the original reform package agreed between the whips had been introduced successfully, one being electronic voting.
"Another is that, while the Taoiseach takes current issues on Tuesday and Wednesday, his attendance is not mandatory on Thursday. This was agreed by the whips in the previous session."
Mr Simon Coveney (FG, Cork South Central) said Fine Gael had not agreed to it.
Ms Hanafin said no other prime minister in the world answered questions that were not notified in advance or seen beforehand.
Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) asked if a timeframe existed within which a programme of Dáil reform would be brought before the House.
Ms Hanafin said that, other than a document agreed by the previous whips, there were very few new proposals.
"Until the whips present other real proposals it will not be possible to present a timeframe in which we can finalise it."
Mr Rabbitte said many kinds of fixtures that filled up ministerial diaries were regarded as more important than being in the Dáil to answer the elected representatives of the people.
He asked if there was any point in explaining to the media "that we are here until 10.30 at night and, coming up to Christmas, we will be here until midnight."
That, he said, would not be written about, adding that there "is constant sniping in some sections of the media by some journalists who never set foot in the place."
After being pressed further on the issue, Ms Hanafin said that while some Dublin-based deputies argued that the Dáil should sit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., rural members said it absolutely should not.
"Those deputies do not wish to find themselves in Dublin with nothing to do for days on end."
"Our profession is particularly unfriendly to family life, but the standardised school calendar, which means that all schools are off next week, might be an opportunity to adopt family friendly policies."
