The Government has voted down a Green Party proposal to have the Dáil return from its summer break at the start of September, instead of the end.
The proposal, by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, was defeated by 55 votes to 41.
The Dáil will not return until 29 September, in 12 weeks' time.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton claimed that only nine of the 19 Bills promised for the current Dáil term had been published, and said it was not good enough for the House to adjourn with so much work undone.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said most people would welcome a break, but it 'beggared belief' that the House would not return until 29 September.
However, Minister for Defence Michael Smith said the Government would be sitting, as would its committees, and accused the Opposition of belittling its work.
He said 90 pieces of legislation had been passed in the two years since the election, and challenged other parties to find any two-year period that could better that record.
