I move:
That Dáil Eireann authorise the broadcasting live on sound of the Budget statement of the Minister for Finance to-morrow and the statement of the Opposition spokesman subject to the following conditions:—
(i) that both statements be broadcast in their entirety and that they be not interrupted by commentary, analysis or commercial breaks;
(ii) that the statements may not later be rebroadcast in whole or in part; and
(iii) that copyright in the material be retained by Dáil Éireann.
The purpose of this motion is to allow radio broadcasting of the Budget Statement and the statement by the Opposition spokesman. The Committee on Procedure and Privileges met and had a full discussion on this matter. I am happy to say there was full agreement that these statements should be broadcast. The committee also considered television. In any aspect of life one must creep before one walks. It was a wise decision to permit radio broadcasting only as an experiment and to see how it will operate. I believe it will be a success. Radio is the ideal medium for broadcasting the Budget Statement and the reply by the Opposition spokesman. There will be interest in them, and consideration can be given also to broadcasting major statements from time to time by the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Opposition.
The House and the committee will have an opportunity to evaluate the effect this will have on the House. We must ensure that it does not interfere with the operation of the House, with its smooth running and with the conduct of the House. I do not think radio should have any ill effects. With television, people might perform if they were on camera. In this case we have selected our performers, the Minister and the Opposition spokesman. I am looking forward to it. It is an historic occasion which we will remember. We will be asking for a copy of the recording to be placed in the Dáil Library as an historic record of something of importance in this House.
We are opening up the House to the people. We will have time to consider its effects and I hope we will be able to bring many more transmissions to the people. It will not be anything like Top of the Pops or top of the TAM ratings. We are broadcasting these statements on radio to give information. I am pleased that the committee grasped the nettle and gave their approval without any rancour. Obviously some people will always have reservations, and rightly so.
This is an innovation and we must look at it carefully. I have no doubt but that RTE will treat the House in the manner in which it should be treated. It is very important that the dignity of Parliament be preserved and its proceedings be upheld to the highest standard. This broadcast will afford people an opportunity of being part of the proceedings of this House. It must be remembered that it is the people who elect us and, apart from the occasions on which they see us in our constituencies or read about events here in the paper, they do not really know what happens in this House. On this occasion they will know. There is always an air of excitement and anticipation about budgets, their contents and what the Opposition may think of them. The creation of that type of interest among the public will make them more aware of politics and of the role of this House. God knows we are not short of knockers, particularly in regard to some shows that try to depict this House as operating with less than dignity. It is right that this type of broadcast should demonstrate that this is a Parliament of dignity, a House serious about its business and, most important of all, one which legislates for the people's benefit, making laws affecting their daily lives. Therefore, it is right that they be afforded an opportunity on radio of feeling part of that institution.
I put this proposal to the Government and they were indeed happy to agree with my suggestion that this broadcast be allowed. I was happy also at the manner in which it was received by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It augurs well for the future of this media — and I speak here of radio — which could have an important role to play in making people more aware of their politicians, of the hard work they do and the time they devote to it. It might well restore peoples' confidence in their parliamentarians, something the more witty pundits might like to denounce.
I look forward to this broadcast tomorrow as being as historic one and that it will prove to have been merely the beginning of bringing this Parliament nearer to and making it more meaningful for our people.