LABOUR AND Sinn Féin were unsuccessful in their demand that the Dáil should resume on Tuesday after the bank holiday weekend rather than on Wednesday.

In a row on the Order of Business yesterday, the Government defeated the Opposition by 71 votes to 18. Fine Gael abstained on the issue. The House will return at 10.30am on Wednesday.

Labour deputy leader Joan Burton said at a time when “the way out of our current economic difficulties is to work harder and provide better value” the onus was on the Government and Dáil to “ensure we take the lead in this”.

Tanáiste Mary Coughlan said the Cabinet “will be meeting on Monday and Tuesday, and it is because of this that we wish to return on Wednesday morning”.

Ms Burton said that while the Dáil was going away for the weekend along with “much of the rest of the country”, there was “absolutely no reason the Dáil should not return at 2.30pm on Tuesday and have a normal day’s business”.

She called on the Government to “reconsider the example we are giving”, because most people would be back at work at 8am or 9am on Tuesday.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin also objected to the extra day’s recess. The Dáil should “resume as normal” on Tuesday and the Minister for Health should address the House on the proposed cuts of up to €1 billion.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny referred to the Cabinet meeting and was “happy that we will have all day Wednesday and Thursday” to debate the economy.

“We have given up our Private Members’ time so that all members can make a contribution on what is a defining moment for this country in Irish politics.”

Ms Coughlan said it was the Government’s intention at its Cabinet meeting to “discuss our four-year budget and growth plan” and that was why it wanted an extra day.