Ireland’s Oireachtas TV gets its own iOS and Android apps

17 Dec 2014

The Irish Government has made its Oireachtas TV content available via a new iOS and Android app that also provides contact details of all TDs and senators.

The app, which is available on the App Store and on Google Play, was developed as part of the overall Houses of Oireachtas communications strategy. It now allows users to follow the business of the Dáil, Seanad and committees live on video or audio streams wherever and whenever they want.

Oireachtas TV, which went live last September, is also available free of charge on Sky channel 574, UPC channel 207, the Eircom TV Platform, as well as online – bringing the activities of the Dáil, Seanad and committee meetings to a potential 1.1m people.

“In 2014, the Houses of the Oireachtas set out a communications strategy that aimed to bring the business of the Oireachtas to as many people as possible,” said Mark Mulqueen from the Houses of the Oireachtas Services.

“We realise that there is an appetite for impartial information on the Houses of the Oireachtas. Now we want Oireachtas TV to be the go-to source of impartial unfiltered access to the Oireachtas.

“In this way people can see for themselves the business of the Oireachtas, from the Banking Inquiry to the work of a wide range of committees.”

The Houses of Oireachtas app also provides contact details of all TDs and senators, along with details regarding constituencies.

The app also details what is happening in the Dáil, Seanad and Oireachtas Committees, and a full weekly schedule has already been downloaded more than 700 times.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com