LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore has accused the Government of taking an additional week’s parliamentary holidays, despite collapsing pay talks on the issue of unpaid leave.

Mr Gilmore, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, strongly opposed the Government’s proposal to adjourn the Dáil for the Christmas recess until January 19th, a week longer than the scheduled calendar sittings.

“It is somewhat ironic that the Taoiseach and the Government collapsed the pay talks with the trade unions over a proposal for additional leave and then come in here to propose an additional week’s leave for themselves after Christmas,” said Mr Gilmore.

The Labour leader also referred to “a work of fiction, namely, the Green Party election manifesto which states that it would more than double the Dáil sitting time, with Dáil sittings running 45 weeks a year from Monday afternoon until lunchtime on Friday, from 9.30am until 7pm”.

Mr Gilmore said that whatever about previous years, there was no justification for the House adjourning until January 19th.

“These are not normal times and this should not be treated as business as usual,” he said. “Unemployment figures released yesterday show that approximately 185,000 more people were unemployed last year than in the previous year.”

Mr Gilmore said there were figures showing that emigration was back to the levels of decades ago, with 60,000 emigrating last year.

“We are in an economic crisis and we should not be adjourning until January 19th. At the very least, the House should be back on the date originally agreed, which was January 13th.”

Enda Kenny also said the House should return on January 13th, adding that legislation should be introduced establishing an inquiry into the catastrophic failure of the banking system.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the House should sit for two days next week, adding that the Dáil had not discussed the devastating effect of the Government’s decision to close down community development projects throughout the State. “It is a disgrace that we are not having an opportunity to address this huge issue that has been relegated by this Government,” he added.

On Dáil reform, Fine Gael’s David Stanton suggested that the Taoiseach, over the holiday period, could support chief whip Pat Carey in his work so as to provide more up-to-date and effective procedures. Mr Stanton said Minister for the Environment John Gormley had promised legislation on Seanad reform before Christmas.

Brian Cowen replied: “The chief whip will continue, I am sure, with the work he is pursuing at the moment as regards reforms here . . . As regards reform of the Seanad, I shall have to come back to the deputy as to what the situation is.”

The Government won the division on its proposals for the Christmas holidays by 77 votes to 65.