TDs have voted to give themselves a week off - just four weeks after returning from their summer holidays.
Despite protests from the Opposition, who said there was no reason for the Dáil not to sit next week, Government TDs backed the one week break, winning the vote by 55 to 47.
Tánaiste Mary Harney pointed out that committees would still be sitting, adding that some Deputies were looking forward to spending time with their children, who would all be off next week thanks to the standardised school year.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton described the week long break as 'inexplicable' and 'impossible to understand', and pointed out that most TDs would be in Leinster House next week anyway.
Pat Rabbitte of Labour said there was 'no justification' for the move, and said it did not matter if the committees were working, the perception would be that TDs were in their constituencies or in Spain.
He said it was irresponsible to exclude the House from discussing the unfolding situation in the North, adding that the only objective of this Cabinet was to spend as little time as possible in the House.
Green party leader Trevor Sargent complained that deputies were only back into their stride, and that while the country got a Bank Holiday, the Dáil gets a Bank Holi-week.
Sinn Féin's Caoimghín Ó Caoláin also opposed the break.
The Tánaiste said that committees would be working next week, the Government would be meeting, and there was no question of people going off on holidays.
