A dedicated Oireachtas TV channel should be beamed into sitting rooms to broadcast the Dáil, Seanad and all-party committees, the Taoiseach told the Dáil today.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte famously claimed that only drunks and insomniacs watched the late-night parliamentary coverage on RTÉ. But Bertie Ahern said the channel would help inform the public about D á il and Seanad debates and topical issues being discussed in the 22 Oireachtas committees.
He suggested that the new Joint Administrative Committee chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Barry Andrews could consider the project at its first meeting.
Mr Ahern told TDs: "I am entirely in agreement on a dedicated television station broadcasting unedited recordings of what happens in the House, although perhaps edited if there is repetition.
"I understand that it would be easy enough for us to do it. Presentations made to Oireachtas committees would fill many television stations. "Obviously, if the Dáil is being broadcast, everything else could not be but it would be very suitable for running in the evening or at weekends.
"It might never have high TAM ratings but I do not believe many people watch much of the stuff I happen to flick through when looking for the programme I want to watch.
"I would say that a lot of the rubbish that is on TV does not get much of a TAM rating, although I have to confess that some of the rubbish gets very high TAM ratings.
"A dedicated television service would help to publicise some of the quality presentations which are made. "It may be the case that not everyone will watch the channel when groups come before the Oireachtas to represent a substantial number of people."
Earlier raising the issue, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said opposition parties are due to discuss the issue with the Ceann Comhairle.