The way the Dáil is run is set to change after TDs agreed today to procedural reforms to the House.
The new measures mean the Dáil will sit for longer and will change the way topical issues can be raised by Opposition and Government TDs.
The reforms will take effect from September after members agreed to them today without a vote.
Introducing the changes, Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said they will have a transformational affect on the running of the House.
The Opposition broadly welcomed the plans but criticised certain aspects of them.
The changes will mean the House will convene at 2pm on a Tuesday - 30 minutes earlier than is the case now. The Dáil will also sit on the first Friday of each month until 1.30pm.
The reforms also allows for a TD to raise topical issues for debate.
Dress code ball in Govt's court
The Ceann Comhairle has indicated in the Dáil that attempts to tighten the dress code in the Chamber could still go ahead, depending on when the Government brings forward a motion to do so.
Seán Barrett said the Committee on Procedure and Privileges had decided on a move to clarify what is acceptable, and that decision stands.
But he said that clarification would only happen when a motion was brought forward by the Government.
Dáil votes for shorter summer recess
Meanwhile, the Dáil has voted to go into recess until 14 September - the shortest summer break for many years.
Opposition deputies called for the House to return next week in order to discuss the outcome of today's European summit.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore instead suggested that a planned meeting of the Finance Committee on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the summit could be held in the Dáil Chamber if enough TDs wished to attend.
The House has not sat this late in July since 1975.
The previous government had planned to go into recess on 7 July and return on 28 September.
Fianna Fáil's Éamon Ó Cuív said it has been customary for the Opposition to oppose the length of the recess, but said he would not do that.
He said many politicians work up to 100 hours a week and that just because the House is not sitting does not mean members will not be working.
Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald said while it should be acknowledged that TDs work hard, there were those outside the walls of Leinster House that work much harder.
Earlier, Independent TDs Joe Higgins and Richard Boyd Barret had also called for the Dáil to sit next week.
The result of the Dáil vote on the matter was 68 to 31.
