A number of complaints were made on today's Order of Business about last night's "Oireachtas Report". I undertook, on behalf of the House, to contact RTÉ to ascertain why all references to the debates in this House yesterday were omitted. I have the following reply from RTÉ:
The introduction of new Committees in the Oireachtas has increased pressure on "Oireachtas Report" which already meets tight deadlines to apportion broadcasting time between the proceedings in both Houses.
Sometimes this leads to difficult editorial decisions.
Yesterday, the Finance and General Affairs Committee was finishing its debate on the Ethics Bill; the Occupiers' Liability Bill was also in Committee. It was a busy day in the Dáil, with the Taoiseach answering questions for an hour and the Minister for Finance also taking questions. There was also an important procedural discussion on the Order of Business that had to be covered and the main business of the day in the Dáil was the Consumer Credit Bill.
The Bill being discussed in the Seanad had been covered at Second Stage and will be covered again.
It was against this background that the difficult decision was taken to exclude the report, which had been prepared, on the Seanad last night. This is a highly unusual occurrence and the decision was made with the intention of giving the Upper House more time tonight by way of compensation. A report on yesterday's debate will also be included on our weekly radio programme which is transmitted at 6 p.m. on Sundays.
With the changing nature of the Oireachtas proceedings and the consequent increase in business, RTÉ is looking at how best to continue to provide coverage of both Houses and the extended Committee system.
RTÉ is looking at the way in which it may have to change its coverage of the Oireachtas. Given that the amount of work being conducted in both Houses and the committees is greater than in the past, I think we can take it that what happened yesterday will not happen again. I have also asked that a meeting of the broadcasting committee be convened to discuss the question.
