Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Absolutely.

At the same time, this is an important issue that must be borne in mind. Broadcasting of every form reflects society and on what we do. Particularly, it affects what we do in this House. I know one of the proposals is for an Oireachtas channel and I supported this from the outset. It is a great idea and would be of great importance because it would bring to the public the events of the Houses of the Oireachtas as they happen. It would be useful also from the point of view of the performance of Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. After all, who wants to sit in a Chamber at any time if nobody reports what happens there. One would be better off anywhere else.

By the same token, a broadcaster may be critical of the Houses of the Oireachtas, often rightly so. It is important that we are all criticised from time to time and it is hoped constructively so. There are two ways to offer criticism. It can be constructive and beneficial or undermining and damaging, depending on how it is put.

Technology is advancing at a rapid rate and the Minister referred to the Internet and its availability. Some aspects of modern broadcasting such as the YouTube website are uncontrollable and undesirable. I presume this regulation will apply also to this type of broadcasting. In the not so distant past we saw that material of a very undesirable nature was shown on the web through various forms of new and modern means of communication. I do not mean material of a sexual nature, I mean material of an abusive nature. Whatever else we do, abuses of any nature, shape or form should never be glamourised.

Never should the notion prevail that because it has happened, appalling as it may appear, the public should see it. This is greatly damaging, particularly in the case of children, and Deputy Michael D. Higgins referred to it previously. The abuse of children on the Internet, whether it reflects what is taking place, is simply not acceptable. It is an appalling advancement of the cause of those involved in the abuse. It is an appalling reflection on society that it would even be allowed or contemplated in any shape or form that any medium would facilitate the advancement of what is obviously a depraved industry.

This is a large Bill with approximately 180 sections. I do not know how the Minister will be able to deal with this matter. It is a form of broadcasting — the Minister referred to it as a modern form of broadcasting. I do not accept the notion that because it is technically feasible, we can do nothing about it. That is not true. All this can be tracked by modern technology.

I accept that with some of the items of an undesirable nature which have appeared on YouTube, action was eventually taken. I cannot understand why it is not possible to screen items such as a girl or teenager being beaten up or abused. It should be possible to technically detect this type of sickness at an early stage and not do what was done in the past and state it is a matter for the Garda Síochána, which is the arm of the law and detection, prevention and retribution.

We must recognise the growing power and influence of the broadcaster. The Minister discussed at considerable length the State broadcaster. By that, I presume he means the Government broadcaster. Those of us on this side of the House are always ultra-sensitive when it comes to the State or public broadcaster as the Minister——

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