asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether, in view of the fact that persons are unable to obtain batteries to operate battery wireless sets, he will waive the claim for payment of the wireless licence fees in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Battery Wireless Sets.
I would refer the Deputy to the general statement which I made on this question when presenting the Wireless Broadcasting Estimate for the current year to the Dáil on the 17th June last. I have since given the matter further and most careful consideration, but I regret that, by reason of the serious administrative difficulties which would be involved, it would be quite impossible to waive or make any concession in relation to the amount of the wireless licence fee. In the circumstances, I wish to repeat the advice which I have already given in the matter, viz., that holders of sets which are inoperable from any cause should arrange, either on their own account or in conjunction with others, for temporary storage of the apparatus and thereby free themselves completely from liability in regard to the taking out of a licence. One licence will cover any number of sets stored in a particular place. Failure to comply with the statutory obligation to take out a licence where wireless apparatus, whether operable or not, is held, will, I regret, leave me no alternative but to give directions for the institution of legal proceedings.
If wireless licence holders take the advice the Minister has tendered, the Department concerned will lose wireless licence revenue, but why is it necessary to put persons concerned to the trouble of storing their sets with somebody else in order to meet a very obvious injustice which is imposed by his Department at present? Surely it is possible for the Gárda Síochána to certify whether a set is operable or not, and if persons cannot use wireless sets because of the absence of dry-cell batteries, what is the difficulty about waiving the claim for payment of licence fees in such cases?
Our Department has gone into that matter very carefully with the Department of Justice. It has been found that there are administrative difficulties which we could not get over.
What are the administrative difficulties? It seems to me that a few children could fix the matter up. If a person has a wireless set and no battery to work the set, no fee is payable. Is that not easy? Put the obligation on the person to produce a certificate from a member of the Civic Guard, or perhaps a clergyman, that the set is not working, and therefore no fee is payable. Is there anything simpler than that?
It is not as simple as that.
Is it simpler than that?
A wireless set is not a simple apparatus.