Perhaps, but the problem for me is to find out, for example, when and from where a message was sent. I have no way of really knowing when a member is in the House, the lobby or elsewhere.
I believe that this is an issue for the committee to consider. Should BlackBerrys be allowed in the House or not? If a message like the one sent by our colleague is so objectionable as to warrant a prohibition, then change the rules and prohibit BlackBerry use in the House.
Without such a rule, it is very difficult for the Speaker to figure out who sent what from where. That is very important to keep in mind, because a member who is outside the House can refer to a colleague's absence from the Chamber. That is not contrary to our rules. The prohibition against such references only applies during debates in the House.