Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said his party will withdraw pairing arrangements with Government parties when the Dáil resumes after the summer recess.
Mr Kenny said the move was being taken after the Government rejected a call from Fine Gael to dedicate the first two days of the new Dáil season to a debate on the economy.
He said the matter should be discussed and Dáil members needed to bring Government Ministers, 'who are out of touch', up to date with what is happening.
Fine Gael is planning to put extra pressure on the Government when the Dáil term opens, withdrawing the usual system of parliamentary pairing during a debate on the economy.
The debate tomorrow and Thursday will be on a Fine Gael motion criticising the Government's handling of the economy, and calling on it to set out a coherent plan to deal with the recession we are facing.
Usually, one Opposition TD does not vote for each Government Minister away on official business but Fine Gael says it is withdrawing this pairing arrangement to reflect the seriousness of the issue.
