The Oireachtas Broadcasting Service is officially launched by the Director General of RTÉ Vincent Finn.
The service has received a government grant of £100,000 towards the purchase of equipment for the new studios.
Labour party leader Dick Spring, Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, Fianna Fáil leader Charlie Haughey, Ceann Comhairle Tom Fitzpatrick, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad PJ Reynolds, and TD Brian Lenihan, are all in attendance at the opening ceremony.
It is hoped that broadcasting on the radio airwaves from both the Seanad and the Dáil will hold politicians to public account and raise public awareness of political life. Charlie Bird talks to Dick Spring, Dr Garret FitzGerald and Charlie Haughey on their views of the new development.
According to Dick Spring
It's important that the work that politicians are doing can be heard by the public.
Charlie Haughey talks about the possibilities for the future and the potential for TV broadcasting from the Houses of the Oireachtas. He also comments
It's going to put us all on our metal.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 October 1986. The reporter is Charlie Bird.
