The session is, however, not actually a debate. Individual TDs make a short speech to which a nominated government minister then replies. With the exception of an occasional heckle there is no interaction between the speakers.

Like so much that happens in the Dail chamber scripts are merely read aloud.

The matters selected for 'debate' range from local to national. Last week, for example Fianna Fail's Charlie O'Connor spoke about hospital services in Dublin South West (his constituency), while Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen raised the issue of CT scanners for Ennis General Hospital.

Ciaran Cuffe of the Green Party spoke about the high rate of suicide among young Travellers while Billy Timmins of Fine Gael was concerned about the need for a national emergency planning agency in view of a terrorist attack. In general, TDs use the adjournment debate to speak about issues in their constituencies.

They can then go back to their local areas confident that their contributions will generate some local media interest. In reality, little new is revealed during the adjournment debate.

Cabinet ministers are frequently on the missing list for delivering the scripted replies. Instead junior ministers find themselves in the spotlight. Sometimes the junior minister may not even have responsibility for the policy area that has been raised. Last Thursday afternoon, Minister for Children Brian Lenihan was filling in for both Mary Harney and Micheal Martin. The previous evening Lenihan was filling in for Harney, Michael McDowell and Willie O'Dea. If ministerial salaries were performance-related Lenihan would be due a big pre-Christmas bonus. But then given that all that is required is an ability to read out a written script there is nothing too tasking involved. Actually, given the pay differential between ministerial salaries and Equity rates for part-time actors it would make economic sense to hire a few mimics for the session . . . and nobody would probably notice as the Dail chamber is generally empty and the press gallery deserted.

And why would anyone sit through these sessions? "I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment, " is the standard opening line for every ministerial reply. During the three adjournment debates last week the ministers who came into the Dail used their responses to merely rehash plaudits about the government's record since 1997. It's a case of, ask the question and we'll tell you how great we are.