A GOVERNMENT com­mittee wants to send five TDs to Brussels on a junket to watch European Parliament proceedings live on the internet.


The Houses of the Oir­each­tas Commission had been planning to launch a tel­evision station, specifically to broadcast the daily hap­pen­ings of the Dáil and Seanad.


However, that plan fell victim to budgetary cut­backs and its estimated €2m cost was deemed too steep.


Now the proposal for Dáil TV – or an internet version – has been resurrected with a fact-finding mission set to take place to look at broadcasting proceedings online instead.


The idea already has pop­ular support with former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who said it would be an antidote to "much of the other tripe on television"... or indeed, the internet.


An experimental web version of Dáil TV has been on the internet since last December when the goings on at the Houses of the Oireachtas were streamed online. Now, the joint administration committee has issued an invitation to a TD from each of the main parties to attend a fact-finding mission to Brussels and possibly Strasbourg.


The three-day visit, which will take place in March while the Dáil is in session, is expected to cost in the region of €6,000, the Sunday Tribune has learned.


Some TDs reacted with disbelief, with one saying, "It should be the least of our worries but shows how out of touch this government can be. It is even happening when the Dáil is sitting.


"If they want to see pro­ceedings of the European Parliament broadcast on the internet, they can probably do it from here.


"No government is going to approve an upgrade of internet broadcasting fa­cilities or anything similar in the current climate so why do we need the trip?"


A spokesman for the Houses of the Oireachtas said: "The proposed trip you mentioned is still being considered, so unfortunately we have no further details for you yet. [We] should have more information next week, though, when members' travelling and meetings are finalised."


The junket will involve a tour of European Parliament chambers at either Brussels or Strasbourg. The five TDs who travel are expected to be accompanied by at least one official from the Houses of the Oireachtas.