The Dáil will rise this afternoon for its summer recess and will not resume until the end of September.
A proposal by the Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, that the Dáil return from its 12-week break early in September was defeated in the House this morning.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, defended the Government's legislative record in the two years since the general election.
He said 90 pieces of legislation had been passed in that time. Mr Smith said the Government would be sitting during the summer break, as would committees.
