With so much change in the world of politics, it's comforting to know that some traditions still hold true.
The Dáil returned from its St Patrick’s Day recess today and, - as is customary following a Bank Holiday weekend - it reconvened on Wednesday afternoon.
To some this extra day (and-a-half) off might seem like an unnecessary indulgence. But with so little happening in Leinster House these days, others might ask: what difference does it make?
It was clear on their first day back, with no Committees to attend and no votes on the horizon, that TDs have time on their hands.
So much so that Peadar Tóibín of Aontú was able to do some number crunching to present to the House: It’s been 110 days since the General Election, he said, and the Dáil has sat for 17 days. "For 85% of that time this Dáil has been off - since the General Election!"
Requesting an extra sitting day both this week and next, Deputy Tóbín said: "This is a legislature that cannot legislate."
But even if it did sit for a few extra days, it’s questionable how much would actually get done.
Since this Dáil was Constituted in the aftermath of the November election, just two pieces of legislation have passed. The only law to be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas is the one to increase the number of junior ministers.
There are no Bills or legislation for debate on the agenda this week. There are statements on the Housing Commission Report and statements on international security and trade. Sinn Féin will table a motion on Social Housing and a Labour Party Motion on young carers.
Dáil in 'cold storage'
To the Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, this all amounts to a "do nothing Government" and a Dáil "in cold storage".
Voicing her frustration with the sluggishness, she said: "The legislative priority of the Government so far has been to get more money for their junior ministers."
The Government side argues that there has been little by way of legislation being prompted by the opposition either. Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and Labour are yet to table a private members Bill, they argue (choosing instead to table motions).
Besides, as the Taoiseach pointed out, "all the whips agree the Dáil calendar". He said there are "empty soundbites" about only meeting a certain number of days since November when "there was a government being formed! In the modern era it takes a long time to form a government".
The 'Lowry Lads'
The real reason this Dáil is so ineffectual is the row over speaking time rights for a group of Independent TDs who support the Government and were part of negotiating it, but who wanted speaking time on the opposition benches.
The "Lowry Lads" as the Labour Party leader, Ivana Bacik, referred to them.
After a long-drawn-out process, the Oireachtas Business Committee failed to find any compromise, the Government is expected to proceed with legislation next week which would grant speaking time to this group of "others".
The coalition argues that once this process is resolved, Committees - where scrutiny of legislation takes place - can be established, but that the opposition parties are holding this up.
"We should be passing legislation, we will do it by plenary session here if we have to and we will," Mr Martin said. "If you don’t want to form Committees and you want to be a barrier to the formation of Committees that is your business," he told the opposition parties.
But Deputy Bacik flatty rejected this: "Many of us in opposition are concerned to hear your Government suggesting that we in opposition are somehow delaying the formation of Committees. It is your Government that is seeking to change standing orders," she said.
"The Ceann Comhairle ruled on the Lowry Lads status, that they are not a technical group in opposition and we in opposition are abiding by that ruling of the Ceann Comhairle - you are looking to change it," she told the Taoiseach.
The Sinn Féin leader agreed: "The Government priority is to placate Michael Lowry and his underlings, with the pretence and fiction that they can carry out opposition functions here in the Dáil. Can I ask that the Gov desist from this course of action that you respect the role we have as opposition? Allow us to get on with our work and you get on with yours."
The blame game continues. But with just ten sitting days before the Easter Break, it's unlikely that Committees will be in place before then.
That means many here believe they'll have to wait until May for a fully functioning Dáil.
