The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Ms Liz McManus, strongly objected to Government plans to adjourn the Dáil for the week following the June bank holiday weekend.
She said the Government should ensure that the House returned for that week to debate the issues of the day and carry out the members' work as legislators.
"We do not accept that a sanitised Friday sitting, as proposed by the Government, is any substitute for the rigorous work we are supposed to do," she added.
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said his party was opposed to today's sitting under the terms proposed by the Government.
"The Tánaiste has already told us that if we are concerned about third-level fees, we should use our Private Members' time, which is available to use about once every three months. That is a derisory suggestion," he added.
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) sought a debate on third-level fees, but argued that there was a lot of sham politics in the chamber.
"On the one hand, the Labour party is always complaining that the Taoiseach is not here to answer questions on Thursdays, yet it was that party which facilitated his absence," he added.
He said the Fine Gael leader, Mr Kenny, had referred to the absence of ministers in Clare with the Taoiseach. Yet, the "so-called main Opposition party" had helped the Government to rig the outcome of votes in the House.
Mr Enda Kenny said the people accompanying the Taoiseach's entourage in Clare had not been paired by Fine Gael.
On a division, the Dáil agreed to sit today by 61 votes to 48.
