Mobile phones and snacking by TDs and Senators will be banned at Oireachtas committees when they go live on the internet in coming weeks.
Proceedings from the 20 all-party bodies in Leinster House are due to be streamed onto the Oireachtas website before Easter.
But strict new guidelines will outlaw mobile phones, beverages and food in committee rooms during the live webcasts.
Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn, who is helping to spearhead the changes, said the dignity and the decorum of the national parliament must be upheld at all times.
“A draft document with the new protocols must be agreed by the chairmen of all committees before they go live,” said Mr O’Flynn, who heads the working group of committee chairmen.
He added: “Places like New Zealand allow coffee and fruit in its parliament chambers, but it won’t happen in Leinster House.”
Appropriate dress codes that apply in the Dáil and Seanad will also be enforced for members and guests of committees.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary flouted the rules in the last Dáil when he turned up at the transport committee in an open-necked shirt and cracked open a can of cola.
Last year it emerged that an average of about 70 people watched each webcast meeting of the Oireachtas Committee discussing the Lisbon Treaty.
Mr O’Flynn was chairman of the Communications Committee when it became the first all-party body to be webcast during the last Dáil.
“There is a unique non-partisan approach by parties in the committees so it will give the public a different view of how the parliament does its work, compared to the Dáil and Seanad. You may have argy-bargy from time to time but the conduct of business is very constructive," he said.
Director of committees Art O’Leary said: “Webcasting the proceedings of committees is the latest step in an outreach programme to inform the public about the work of the Oireachtas.
“We hope it will win new audiences, especially those with a specific interest in the subject matter.
“Up to 14 committee meetings a week will be webcast. There are four committee rooms, so four committees will be shown at any one time.”
The Oireachtas also has long-term plans for a dedicated parliamentary television channel.
PA