It is proposed to take Business in the following order: Nos. 4, 12, 5, 13, and 14; in No. 14 Votes 44, 45, and 9 (resumed).
Order of Business.
Before proceeding with the order of Business, may I raise a matter which I had occasion to advert to a number of times recently in this House, namely, the making available to Deputies of official publications? I complained on one occasion in connection with the publication of the monthly report by the National Prices Commission. When the last report was published, it was at least one week later before Deputies received copies in their post. Since then the Minister for Industry and Commerce has conveyed his regret to our Chief Whip and said he would try to ensure that this delay would not happen again. I am grateful to the Minister for that.
However, we have the most recent incident of the publication of the report of the television review committee, details of which were announced in this morning's newspapers. Up to now the report has not been delivered to any Deputy, and as far as I know, it has not been sent to any Senator, other than two copies submitted to the Chief Whip of the Fianna Fáil Party by courtesy of the Government Information Services.
On the Last occasion when I complained, I pointed to the embarrassment that is occasioned to Deputies by this practice. While I appreciated that in the case of lengthy Government publications it was understandable and desirable that they be given to the news media somewhat in advance so that they might be digested by them for fair comment, the point I made then was that while accepting that practice the documents should be in the hands of Deputies simultaneously with publication in the newspapers.
The situation has arisen again where an important document has been published—so far as I know there was no deadline—and any excuse to the effect that sufficient copies were not available to the Minister or to the Government Information Services will not hold water on this occasion. I am not so much protesting on behalf of the Opposition who received two copies for a total membership of about 90 Members of the Oireachatas but on behalf of the rights and privileges of Deputies and of Members of the Oireachtas generally.