asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he has accepted the recommendations contained in the report on new technology for Leinster House which was produced by the National Board for Science and Technology; if so, when the recommendations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leinster House New Technology.
7.
While the Government have agreed with the NBST recommendation that a detailed plan of action be drawn up to implement such changes as are agreed, the Government are not committed, at this stage, to any of the suggestions for the application of new technology to Leinster House put forward by the NBST in their report. The Deputy will see that the report contains a wide range of options, which require further consideration.
In order to facilitate consideration of the report, I proposed to CPP that an informal steering committee representative of the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Finance, the Department of the Public Service, the Houses of the Oireachtas (Administration), and the Office of the Leader of the House, be established to analyse the report, consider the options and make recommendations. This has been agreed. The first meeting of the steering committee took place on Thursday, 17 May 1984 and the committee will, I am sure, welcome any suggestions which members of either the Dáil or the Seanad might like to put forward in the area under examination.
As an interim measure would it be possible to do something about the archaic system in the Chamber, for instance, to replace that machine to the right of the Clerk——
That does not arise.
The Minister is asking for suggestions. There is an archaic system here——
If the Minister asks for suggestions at Question Time he, too, is out of order.
We should have a computerised system here and show some semblance of modernity. The day is spent looking for names.
Has the Minister put any deadline for the committee to report back? We have seen committees passing problems to somebody else and it is years before we hear anything.
I would remind Deputies that five members of this committee are politicians. They are Deputies Barrett, the Minister of State, B. Ahern and Taylor, as well as Senators Dooge and W. Ryan. These members can be relied on to pursue all suggestions for the improvement of the operation of this House. Two of the committee members are members of Deputy Reynolds's party and he, therefore, has a personal means to make suggestions. I should like to see an early report and I hope we will have something from the committee before the end of the summer recess. Among the suggestions will be in regard to the Library, the processing of information facilities for Deputies and the electronics system in this House. It must be appreciated that it will take some time to reach a conclusion in regard to these matters.
When President Reagan comes here he will think he has gone back to the dark ages.
I would not be so sure about that. We are not so bad.