EDITORIAL: Longer Dáil summer recess unjustifiable

THE notion that our TDs would extend their already lengthy Dáil summer recess to three months to facilitate refurbishment work on the chamber is ludicrous in the extreme, given how little time the House has sat for so far this year. Of all years, this is certainly not the one to even contemplate such disruption, especially in the wake of all the prevarication that occurred following the general election at the end of February until the formation of the new government over two months later.

Instead of taking a month’s extra break, they should be taking a month less to make up for some of the lost time and getting to work on the myriad problems facing the country in the areas of health, housing and justice for starters. Surely, they could meet for a few weeks in a temporary alternative venue nearby, such as the Mansion House – which was good enough for the first Dáil – or perhaps a lecture theatre in Trinity College?

Failure to think outside the box shows up the powers-that-be for what they are, making one wonder how does the country manage to function at all.