Comments on: A week… a full extra week! A grateful nation looks towards a (very slightly) longer Dáil session before the Summer.

By: WorldbyStorm

WorldbyStorm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:05:53 +0000

By: Wednesday

Wednesday — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:32:16 +0000

the long summer recesses taken by the House invite a public odium on the way in which it does its business.

This would be the same public that complains when their TD spends too much time in Leinster House and not enough in their constituency. Of course.

By: WorldbyStorm

WorldbyStorm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:23:13 +0000

I guess if it followed a more clearly working hours basis it might be better. It is a fair point though that you raise re distance to far-flung constituencies and how that affects lives, family or otherwise… some would seek federal structures… but we’re a fairly small country in terms of population and geography for that…

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 22:18:27 +0000

Wouldn’t shorter Dáil sessions spread over longer weeks/more weeks not be worse for families? Under the current arrangement, parents can be in the constituency Friday-Monday (inclusive) when the Dáil is sitting and in their constituency for the full week when it is not meeting. But under Varadker’s idea, parents would have to be in Dublin Monday-Friday, and for more weeks of the year.

The current situation isn’t that bad parent wise. It’s not what they do in the Dáil that wrecks family life, but what they have to do when they are in their constituencies (the clinics, the meetings, the calls at all hours) that puts them over the edge. Not being a TD or a parent, I am of course getting all this from the excellent ‘The Naked Politician’, a book which tells us that some Dublin TDs nip home for dinner with the family between votes.

By: WorldbyStorm

WorldbyStorm — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:06:54 +0000

They will struggle onwards to meet their inevitable fate with the electorate… heh, heh.

By: a very public sociologist

a very public sociologist — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:25:49 +0000

Oh no! How will the TDs cope with one less week of holiday? I pity them.

By: WorldbyStorm

WorldbyStorm — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:12:06 +0000

Not high enough some would say

By: Dublin Opinion » Blog Archive » Latest from Irish Left Review

Dublin Opinion » Blog Archive » Latest from Irish Left Review — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:17:23 +0000

[...] of Cedar Lounge Revolution has already pointed readers towards Michael Taft’s analysis of the Lisbon Vote, but I just thought I’d mention it [...]

By: splinteredsunrise

splinteredsunrise — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:14:56 +0000

He does set his sights high, does Eamon.