Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

If the proceedings of this House were broadcast live, as they are in the European Parliament and the US Congress, but Members only had one minute to make their proposals to the Leader of the House, the affairs of this House would be enhanced. As one of the two Houses of Parliament, that is the direction in which we should go. I have always been proud of the proceedings of this House, but unfortunately the public is not given an opportunity to see them at first hand and appreciate what is taking place. Members of the commission who are represented in this House, including the Cathaoirleach, should do everything in their power to ensure that two dedicated channels are allocated to this. At one stage, when I was a member of the Joint Committee on Broadcasting and Parliamentary Information, the European Commission was considering the allocation of channels 61 and 62 to our affairs. I am prepared to propose to the House, under your stewardship, a Chathaoirligh, a change in the time of the Order of Business to allow the proceedings to be broadcast live to the people of Ireland.