TDs have voted in favour of a five-week Dáil recess for Christmas.
Following today's conclusion of business, the Dáil will not be in session until 27 January.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was perverse and outrageous that TDs would not return until the end of January. He said the country is in a national crisis and proposed the Dáil return on 7 January.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said there was no justification for the length of the break.
Tánaiste Mary Coughlan said, however, that the perception that TDs do not work while the Dáil is not sitting is factually incorrect.
She said the House may return early if legislation is needed for the recapitalisation of the banks.
