Michael McCarthy (Labour)

Given the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources unanimously agreed last week that the Minister should annul the statutory instrument that will result in the imposition of a levy on independent radio stations that will inevitably cost jobs, particularly in rural Ireland, will the Leader agree to a Labour Party proposal to request the Minister to annul the statutory instrument and will he allow his members in this House, some of whom spoke in favour of Senator O'Toole's motion, a free hand in the vote that is imminent? If this House is to mean anything and if there is any element of democracy, particularly from the ruling party, surely he will allow that free hand so this House can express its faith in independent radio stations.