THERE IS TO be a permanent “complete” block on calls made to premium rate phone lines from Leinster House.
The Dail’s Committee on Procedure and Privileges has decided to block access to such phone lines in the wake of 3,636 calls made to vote for Michael Healy-Rae on a TV reality show from a phone in Leinster House.
The Committee, chaired by Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett, it was important to act “where it was clear that facilities were being abused”. A statement read:
The Committee… was acting in response to an incident in which premium rate calls costing over €2,600 were made to a voting line for a reality TV game show. The Committee said that access to facilities such as telephones was essential for the work of the Dail and its Members but that it was equally important to act where it was clear that facilities were being abused.
The decision now goes to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission for regulations relating to TD facilities to be amended.
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