The Government has proposed that the Dáil sit an extra seven hours a week and hold new "topical debates", as part of a package of reforms for the House.
However, it ruled out calls from the opposition for the Taoiseach to have to attend the House on each sitting day.
Announcing its proposals last night, in opposition to a Fine Gael Private Member's Motion on Dáil reform, the Government said it would increase the number of weekly sitting hours in the House from 23 to 30, with 9 a.m. starts on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Dáil would continue to sit on just three days a week, with a noon start on Tuesday, but extra time would be given for topical issues of "both national and local importance" through a topical debate, separate to Leader's Questions.
Other proposals include the allocation of an hour each week for reporting on the proceedings of committees. In particular, the chairman of the Sub-Committtee on European Scrutiny would address the Dáil every six months.
The Government also said it planned to use new technologies "to deepen dialogue between members and the public". These included live webcasting of Dáil and committee proceedings on the Internet, and progressing proposals for a dedicated TV channel to broadcast proceedings.
In addition, the Government pledged to prioritise the development of an e-legislation system, allowing for online access to the text of bills, but not e-voting in the chamber.
Introducing his party's motion in the Dáil last night, the leader of Fine Gael, Mr Enda Kenny, said the Taoiseach should be present in the House on Thursdays as well as Tuesdays and Wednesdays as at present.
"The status of the Dáil has been reduced to that of a mere nuisance. As a consequence, democracy is diminished, public trust is broken, cynicism, apathy and disaffection occur on a widespread scale," said Mr Kenny.
"People regard politicians as being all the same, members of the brown-envelope brigade who have relegated the people of Ireland to being spectators in the political process."
The Labour chief whip, Mr Emmet Stagg, recalled that Labour had already published extensive proposals for Dáil reform. "We are proposing that the Dáil should meet four days a week, in much more normal working hours. We also propose that the summer recess should be no longer than normal working breaks and that the practice of a full week around St Patrick's Day and Halloween should be abandoned," he said.
The House will vote on the Fine Gael motion tonight.
A spokeswoman for the Chief Whip said Ms Mary Hanafin would bring all the proposals to the Dáil Reform Committee which she hoped would find a resolution on the matter within three months.