The Dáil resumes business today after its Christmas break amid Opposition criticism that this week's sittings will not allow proper scrutiny of the Government.
The House, returning a week earlier than normal, is to sit for a total of 13 hours this week, but there will be no Order of Business, questions to the Taoiseach, adjournment debate, or votes.
Today will see three hours of statements on the European Union presidency. On Wednesday the House will discuss a report on the development of cancer treatment services, and Thursday will see discussion of the Public Service Management Bill 2003.
The Government Chief Whip, Ms Mary Hanafin, said this week's plenary session "fittingly commences with Ireland's presidency of the EU as the first item on the agenda."
The Labour Party's chief whip, Mr Emmet Stagg, has described the arrangements as a 'parliamentary sham'.
Deputy Stagg said opportunities for opposition parties to hold the Government to account had been reduced by a procedural motion, introduced by the Government before Christmas.
He said the motion specified "that for this week there would be no Order of Business; no leaders questions; no Dáil questions (oral or written) to any minister; no adjournment debates; and no votes"
He added: "This government has so far shown that it is interested only in restricting its own accountability to the House."
Fine Gael's Mr Bernard Durkan has also claimed the week's sittings are not worthwhile.