The Government has been accused of contriving to sanitise Dáil business, and undermine the relevance of Parliament.
The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said the organisation of this week's Dáil business was without precedent because "all normal opportunities to question or challenge the Government are removed".
He said while the Dáil was sitting three days this week, there was no Order of Business, no questions to the Taoiseach or Government Ministers and no written parliamentary questions.
The Government, however, rejected the criticism, and said the Opposition wanted the Dáil to resume earlier, and it had. The debate on the EU presidency was appropriate for the first day of Dáil business.
