Opposition parties have criticised the Government for closing the Dáil next week, even though St Patrick's Day does not take place until Saturday.
However, Tánaiste Michael McDowell insisted the Government was 'getting on with Ireland's business' and promoting the country abroad.
Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton said the Government was trying to rush through legislation before the election, but that the Dáil had learnt to its cost the 'folly' of doing so without adequate debate.
He said Mr McDowell was bringing in major criminal justice legislation at 'five minutes to midnight' in terms of the lifetime of this Dáil.
Labour's Liz McManus said there was no need to take next week off as St Patrick's Day was not until the Saturday and it would not take ministers a whole week to do their packing before travelling abroad.
John Gormley of the Greens said it was wrong for the Dáil to do its business this way, and while he accepted some ministers would be doing important work, he suggested others were going to horse races.
But Mr McDowell insisted it had been the case for many years that the State took advantage of the St Patrick's festival to promote Ireland.
He said ministers would be participating in events in the run-up to St Patrick's Day, not just on the day itself and he said the Government was getting on with the business of the Dáil, and of the nation.
