THE DÁIL WILL adjourn for the Christmas holidays today and will not sit again until Tuesday 16 January 2018.
The Business Committee, which agrees the House’s weekly agenda, agreed the dates last week.
For the last two weeks, the Dáil has sat on Fridays in order to get through the workload.
Generally, Dáil business concludes on a Thursday each week.
The Dáil is set to rise after 2.30pm today, following statements on an important issue this Christmas – child homelessness.
TDs will also discuss the Domestic Violence Bill and Intoxicating Liquor (Amendment) Bill
The lower house will also rise this afternoon, after it concludes Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which involves the minimum pricing of alcohol beverages, as well as advertising controls for the drinks industry.
Legislation to officially recognise Irish Sign Language is also set to pass through the Seanad today.
Last year there was a bit of chatter about the Dáil finishing up early on the 16 December, instead of 23 December. The reason given for the early rise was due to the Dáil unexpectedly working through the mid-term Halloween break.
The scheduled October break was forfeited when Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin asked the Dáil why it was taking a break so soon after the summer recess.
However, there appear to be no such concerns about the dates for the Christmas holidays this year.
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