A report from the House Committee, which reviewed the issue, recommended Tuesday that the parliamentarians be allowed to use laptop computers for the purpose of taking notes, or as a source of reference material.

However, the committee has suggested that the laptops be not used for any other purpose and in any manner that may disrupt the proceedings.

Other recommendations contained in the report were that the use of other audio-visual aids to support any parliamentary presentation be subject to the discretion of the speaker, and that members who are aggrieved by any decision of the speaker, in this regard, be given the opportunity to demonstrate that the intended use of audio-visuals will not be disruptive.

The House Committee, a permanent committee comprised of members from both sides of the House of Representatives, is chaired by the Leader of the House, Dr Peter Phillips.  It was assigned the task, last year, of looking into the issue following the tabling of a private member's motion by Dr Morais Guy (PNP, Central St Mary).

Dr Guy's resolution recalled that he had tabled a similar resolution earlier which was referred to the committee, but the discussions were not concluded.

He asked that the matter be referred back to the House Committee to conclude the discussions.

The committee said that it fully supported the premise of the resolution, "namely that the time has come for the use of some forms of information technology in the chamber in fulfillment of certain aspects of Parliamentarians' duties".

The committee said that it found that the use of information technology was allowed in several Parliaments, "as long as the particular activity was compatible with good order".

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20060209T190000-0500_98321_OBS_PARLIAMENTARIANS_TO_BE_ALLOWED_USE_OF_LAPTOPS_.asp