Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

As I stated, the broadcasting committee has already progressed the issue of considering a dedicated television channel. If Deputy Stagg had listened to me, for once in his life, he would have heard what I said. We envisage that there would be much more extensive broadcasting and increased use of new technologies.

The Oireachtas website is very valuable and provides timely information on a wide range of parliamentary affairs. However, every Member of the Oireachtas could have a link to a home page on this website to facilitate easier communication with the public. Some of us have our own websites, which have proved to be very successful, but a direct link to the Oireachtas website is important.

One of the other hats I wear is my information society hat. The Government has been progressing not only e-government but the area of the information society. E-parliament must fit into that. We will prioritise the development of the e-legislation system as part of the e-government agenda. Already we have begun the process of e-Cabinet, but e-enablement in the drafting of legislation and the passing of legislation through the House would open up a host of possibilities, allowing Members access on-line to the text of Bills, amendments, debates and other information resources in the Chamber. We need to expedite that because it will lead not only to greater debate but a greater understanding of amendments being put forward, especially on Committee, Report and Final Stages.

We already have an electronic voting system in the House. That system is often undermined when tellers call for a manual vote, having witnessed the results of the electronic vote. It is a time-wasting ploy. It is there simply to ensure that Government cannot move forward with legislation. One of the proposals should be that, on procedural matters, a double voting system should not be allowed.

We are determined to move forward on Dáil reform in a constructive manner on a wide range of issues, which I hope can be progressed within the context of the Dáil reform committee. It is not just about examining the tiny issue of what should happen on a Thursday. It is in the interests of all of the parties in the House to re-examine the way we work. Some of the worst culprits in terms of drawing criticism of the workings of this House are Members who believe there is more to be gained from standing on the plinth and criticising our operational methods than there is from being constructive in the Chamber.

We need to work not just in our own interests but in the public interest because we are here to represent the public and we are here at the taxpayers' expense. Are they getting value for money from the way we do our business? Often the main aim of members of the Opposition is to go out on the plinth and play to the gallery; to entertain, not to inform. We rarely have reasoned argument on serious issues. What we get is false indignation, Members occupying the high moral ground, and bluster and bluff about issues. If we could rule out all that, we could focus on real legislation and engage in a democratic process designed to make this assembly what it is elected to be, namely, a representative assembly which is a legislative democracy. It is not good enough to expect people to pay for entertainment and playing to the gallery.

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