Mobiles to be banned in meetings

Date: 09/11/1995

AN uncharasteric hush has fallen over normally noisy parliamentary gatherings following a decision to ban MEPs from using their mobile phones in meetings.

Responding to complaints made by some MEPs that stirring parliamentary speeches were being drowned out by the shrill sound of ringing mobile phones, Chairman of the College of Quaestors Richard Balfe has ordered members to turn off their phones or leave them outside meetings.

“In order to safeguard the dignity of Parliament's proceedings and to minimise the risk of disturbance to members, the College of Quaestors has decided that mobile telephones may not be brought into meeting rooms or the chamber,” MEPs were told in a note from Balfe.

The move will no doubt come as a blow to scores of deputies known to be fond of talks on their mobiles and who used to carry phones with them at all times. Perhaps they and others will be cheered by the Parliament's plan to install special phones to allow MEPs to continue dealing with urgent telephone business. They will not ring but will flash instead.