asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether his attention has been drawn to a report of a recent statement by a justice of the District Court to the effect that the majority of those prosecuted for wireless offences belong to the working classes, and that persons in the higher income groups either escape detection or are not proceeded against in court; and whether he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wireless Licence Offences.
My attention has been drawn to a newspaper report of the statement referred to in the question. If the district justice was reported correctly, I consider the remark "or are not proceeded against in court" to have been due to a misunderstanding. There is, of course, no discrimination between rich and poor in regard to inspection or prosecution for wireless licence offences. Actually, higher penalties are asked for in the case of well-off people who persist in not purchasing a wireless licence.
Is the Minister in a position to state how long it takes for his Department to transmit the notice to the appropriate section that the licence has been paid and the notice handed in, because I have heard of cases where proceedings were instituted—I do not know whether it is the same case as this one or not—long after the licence had, in fact, been paid, and where a certain amount of trouble was given as a result?
That is a separate question.
I am not able to tell the Deputy exactly.