There have been bizarre scenes in the Dáil this afternoon which call into serious question the Government's new rules for Dáil business.
27 questions to the jobs minister Richard Bruton were not put to the minister because the TDs asking the questions were not present.
The Government changed the rules last year so that ministers do not have to answer questions if the person asking the question is not in the Dáil chamber at the time.
Opposition TDs claim the changes in the rules are aimed at undermining their chances to question ministers as they are regularly tied up at committee meetings.