I move:
That the following arrangements for the sound broadcasting of the proceedings of the Seanad, and which were in operation in the last Seanad, be adopted:-
(1) that Radio Telefís Éireann be authorised to recommence broadcasting of the proceedings of the Seanad and Oireachtas Committees on a pilot basis for a further period of 12 months, provided that such broadcasting proves satisfactory throughout that period;
(2) that such broadcasting be reviewed on an on-going basis by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges;
(3) that such broadcasting be in any of the following forms:
(i) in edited form in Radio and Television News bulletins and current affairs programmes,
(ii) in edited form in a "Today in the Seanad/Oireachtas" type programme,
(iii) in edited form in a "This week in the Committees" type programme,
(iv) occasional live broadcasts of major debates of events in the Seanad or in Committees subject in each case to the prior approval of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges;
(4) that recordings should not be used in programmes of light entertainment, political satire or in party political broadcasts;
(5) that copyright of the material be retained by the Houses of the Oireachtas;
(6) that Radio Telefís Éireann archive material in accordance with their usual practice;
(7) that Radio Telefís Éireann be empowered to sell the recordings to foreign broadcasting stations at an appropriate charge subject to a formal agreement between Radio Telefís Éireann and such foreign broadcasting stations that the recordings shall not be used in programmes of light entertainment, political satire or in party political broadcasts;
(8) that Radio Telefís Éireann devote a proportion of broadcast coverage to proceedings of Oireachtas Committees; and
(9) that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges monitor progress of the arrangements and be the body to consider any complaints from Senators about material broadcast.
It gives me pleasure to propose this motion. I will not delay the House by making a long speech on it but I feel that the programme edited by RTE over the past number of years has been of an exceptional nature. There are very few in this House who could complain about the lack of proper coverage on it. It is a programme that has a wide audience. It is amazing the number of people who listen to it in the evenings and there is also programmes at the weekend. It gives me great pleasure to propose the motion.