asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will reimburse a person (details supplied) in County Galway in respect of a fine of £10 imposed for not having a television licence when in fact he did have a licence.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - TV Licence Fine.
2.
Unfortunately proceedings were instituted in error in this case and a fine of £10 was imposed by the court. Steps are being taken to rectify the situation so far as the defendant is concerned.
Will the Minister explain why the court case was proceeded with despite the fact that the Department were notified of the position by me on the telephone and in writing? Is there no communication between the Minister's office and officials of his Department that allowed this irregularity to happen, where a man was brought before the court when proceedings should not have been instituted against him? Will the Department apologise to the man?
As I said, the matter will be rectified so far as the defendant is concerned. There was a breakdown in communication on some internal matter in the office of the State Solicitor who were prosecuting the case.
Will the Minister tell the House how he proposes to rectify the situation?
Obviously any expense the defendant incurred will have to be made good to him.
Will the Minister not agree that it is an indictment of a man's character to bring him to court in the wrong? In an instance like this, will the Minister at least issue a personal apology to the man or have it published in the local press in order to clear his name?
I have said that anything that needs to be done to rectify the matter will be done. It was an understandable mistake. An appropriate letter of regret may have issued already. I do not have a note to that effect but I am sure that has been done by now.
I accept that.
Will the Minister assure the House that a similar situation will not arise again?
As far as possible similar situations will not arise again but there may be a breakdown in communications or in information being passed from one officer to another.
The Minister should check on it.