Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I had experience of his good work in the past. I worked on the issue of Dáil reform a long time ago with Deputies Stagg and Barrett and former Deputy Mervyn Taylor and others.

I agree there should be a dedicated television channel. I am not sure what is involved but I have spoken to the Chief Whip and he supports the proposal. I told the new joint administrative committee that a committee would be given the responsibility of overseeing the project, bringing it from A to Z. Deputy Barry Andrews is Chairman of that committee and he has been asked to undertake the project.

Deputy Stagg may agree with me that it should not be just fitted into a defined number of hours but rather should be lengthy enough to televise the House when it is sitting and also include recordings of the main committees or all the committees for that matter, or at least the committees might indicate when they wished to be shown. I note the excellent contributions and work undertaken in committees by Deputies who are rarely given time on the floor of the House. These contributions should be acknowledged. It would be good for the House as an institution.

I am aware of the work being undertaken by the Ceann Comhairle as a facilitator which I support and I appreciate his personal interest. A balance must be achieved in all these matters. Deputy Stagg will be aware that if the Opposition makes requests but gives nothing in return, there will be no balance and nothing will happen.

The proposal for holding the Adjournment Debate at a more crucial time during the sitting day would make the House more relevant. Notice would be required for topical issues, whether that would be within hours or whatever, so that Ministers could reply on relevant issues. I refer to what happens in other parliaments which have longer sitting times. The last time I was in the House of Commons to meet the then Prime Minister Blair he got delayed. I went down to the House of Commons, which has 650 members, on the Friday morning where a vote was taking place, the result of which was 11:0.

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