Will the Minister give any consideration to allowing duly elected local authority members to be interviewed on matters affecting their areas?

I have no plans to allow anything on the lines suggested by the Deputy. I note that he did not allow any changes when he had the opportunity. It is particularly appropriate that no changes be made in view of the rather chilly statement made at a recent gathering of the Provisionals when they waved a ballot paper in one hand and, metaphorically, an armalite in the other hand. Are we to allow local authority representatives, waving a ballot paper with one hand and with their armalite rifle behind their back in the other hand, access to our airwaves?

There were no representations whatsoever made to me in relation to this factor. In fact during my term of office it transpired that two local authority members in this category were interviewed and it was only as a result of inquiries and representations in relation to that that the question arose. All I asked the Minister was: will he give any consideration to interviewing those local authority members on local affairs only? I am quite in agreement with the other part of the Minister's statement in relation to the need for section 31. But there should be a somewhat more open approach in relation to these matters. I could not see that it would infringe the spirit of the part of section 31 to which he referred.

As I have already explained to the Deputy, these local representatives are waving the ballot paper with one hand and have the armalite behind their back in the other hand. I do not propose that they should get freedom of the airwaves.