Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I refer to Senator Tuffy's contribution and the article in the Irish Examiner. The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources should conduct an immediate examination of the abuse of video phones. Their use is not allowed in public areas and the same should apply in schools and elsewhere. These video phones and most other telephones must now be left in a safe place before one enters this Chamber or many schools and other buildings. This incident has come to the attention of the public but other information has become available because of these video phones being used to abuse people. Some people here might prefer if their images were not taken on the morning after the night before and transmitted around the world.

The video phone is a tremendous innovation and great use can be made of it but the abuse being highlighted in the Irish Examiner is just an example of what is going on at the moment. The Minister should bring regulations forward on the control of the use and abuse of video phones.