In advance of its Christmas recess, the last day of the Dáil was marked by a mixture of festive goodwill and stinging criticism over the housing crisis.
But there were none of the theatrical scenes of recent weeks with bitter exchanges and persistent heckling.
The remarkably calm final question time for Opposition leaders or their representatives was welcomed by Leas-Cheann Comhairle John McGuinness, who said “in spite of going over time and into the red zone, we managed to keep the tone right”.
The session had started with a “céad míle fáilte” for the recently appointed British ambassador Kara Owen and her embassy officials in the distinguished visitors’ gallery, who were applauded.
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Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty wished a broad “Nollaig shona daoibh agus athbhliain faoi mhaise”, adding “hopefully, everyone will have a peaceful new year, and we will see each other back here in the new year again”.
Getting down to business, he highlighted the Economic and Social Research Institute’s latest report which, he said, “confirmed that decisions taken in the budget will result in a significant fall in disposable income for all households”.
“Workers were hit with frozen tax credits and bands, while the temporary cost of living supports were withdrawn”, leaving families “poorer, not better off”.
He pointed to a €31,000 increase in a single year in house prices, which were “out of control” and “why so many people are losing hope of home ownership”.
Tánaiste Simon Harris began by welcoming the ambassador and the visiting Blessington Community College class, and wishing everyone a Happy Christmas. “I particularly thank all of the people who are behind the scenes but who work so hard, the staff who keep the place running, day in, day out – the ushers, the clerks, the secretaries, the chefs, the gardaí, the cleaners and so many people who think their work goes unseen.”
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Hitting back at Mr Doherty, the Tánaiste said Sinn Féin “went into the previous election promising people an average €300,000 home in Dublin and could not tell us how you were going to pay for it or make it happen”.
Social Democrats housing spokesman Cian O’Callaghan highlighted the plight of Oireachtas workers who broadcast proceedings but “who will now be laid off for the Christmas period without pay. This is completely unacceptable treatment of a group of workers who carry out a vital role in our democracy”.
Mr O’Callaghan also highlighted the record number of children spending Christmas in homeless emergency accommodation – now at 5,247 – an issue also raised by People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett. The latter said families were homeless because of Government and developer focus on one- and two-bedroom apartments when the they needed three- and four-bedroom houses.
Mr Harris said the issue was recognised by local authorities and by Government.
Mr Boyd Barrett took advantage of the British ambassador’s attendance to pass a message to her government “that something urgently needs to be done about the Palestine Action hunger strikers, whose lives are now in danger because they protested against a genocide in Gaza and are being treated in an absolutely brutal fashion”.
The issue of the hunger strikers in Britain was raised by a number of TDs. The Tánaiste said he knew the ambassador would “convey the depth of feeling and concerns of this House”.
The Dáil chamber is never decorated for Christmas, and on the final day the only concession to the season was the attire of Independent TD Paul Gogarty.
The Tánaiste thanked him for “making the effort today with your Christmas jumper and for injecting a degree of Christmas cheer into this place”.
Adjourning at 10pm, the House returns on Tuesday, January 13th. The Seanad gets an extra week, reconvening on Tuesday, January 20th.
