Half day for the Dáil is ‘just not good enough’

PLANS for the Dáil to reconvene for just one half-day session next week have been labelled ‘totally unacceptable’ and ‘simply not good enough’ as the Government face serious questions on the reopening of schools and the fallout from Golfgate.

Yesterday, the Oireachtas confirmed that the Dáil will sit again on Wednesday next week from 2pm following a request to the Ceann Comhairle by the Taoiseach on Monday.

However, opposition TDs have called on the Government to bring the Dáil back for a ‘substantive’ three days next week.

Speaking yesterday, Sinn Féin Chief Whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said that the Dáil was being reconvened to facilitate the appointment of another agriculture minister as well as to deal with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic response.

‘When the Government confirmed that the Dáil was being reconvened after the schools have returned, it was assumed that we would return on Tuesday, September 1, for a typical Dáil week with sittings on three days,’ said Mr Mac Lochlainn.

‘That would mean, at the very least, Leader’s Questions, Taoiseach’s Questions, Minister’s Questions, and a range of statements in co-operation with the opposition.

‘Instead, we have been advised that we are to reconvene on Wednesday September 2, at 2pm, for half a day. This is simply not good enough and it is evidence of a Government that is out of touch with the real anger out there and that they still don’t get it.’

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said that he was ‘stunned’ that the Government is only proposing to sit on Wednesday ‘with the only proposed business being the announcement of the new minister for agriculture and another session on “response to Covid 19” with no details as to what this would include. This is unbelievable and unacceptable’.

Both TDs called for the Government to reconvene the Dáil for a regular three-day sitting.

Deputy Boyd Barrett added that it ‘beggars belief’ that there is no time set aside for statements on the Golfgate scandal. ‘This issue presents a massive problem for the Government and implicates both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. It is clear that the Government is trying their best to ride this scandal out,’ he said.

In addition, Labour TD and spokesman on education Aodhán Ó Ríordáin called on Education

Minister Norma Foley to appear before the Dáil to answer questions relating to schools reopening saying that several issues ‘need to be urgently addressed’.

Among those issues, Mr Ó Ríordáin said was the issue of school transport, school absenteeism if a child needs to stay at home for a few days with a high temperature, and how it will be cleared with Tusla if a child is absent for more than 20 days.

A spokesman for the Department of Education told the Irish Daily Mail yesterday that Ms Foley will be attending the Oireachtas Covid Committee on Wednesday, September 2, next week after receiving an invitation.

The spokesman added that the Minister will be available to take questions in the Dáil and Seanad next week but the date and times are still to be worked out.

A spokeswoman for the Department of the Taoiseach said yesterday that reconvening the Dáil, and what will be brought up when it is reconvened, is a matter for the Business Committee which meets tomorrow.

‘They’re trying to ride out scandal’