Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I thought he would have rushed into the House to appease the Opposition and take on board its reasonable submissions. What worries me most about the Minister of State is his comments to the effect this is not the appropriate time or correct platform on which to accept our proposals. As I said yesterday, now is the time and there is no time like the present.

We have been talking about broadcasting the proceedings of the Houses live since I became a Member. Nothing will ever happen unless one makes it happen. Given that we are now talking about technology and the expansion and improvement of existing broadcasting services, in addition to addressing the need to make people more aware of the proceedings of the Parliament, we have an opportunity to advance. This is a House of Parliament rather than an assembly and it has the absolute powers of a sovereign Parliament. We have many matters to address and the issues that arise on foot of this series of amendments require immediate action.

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