asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs whether he is aware that patients in Monaghan Sanatorium are compelled to license radios presented them by relatives; and if he will see that proposals for legislation are introduced to modify the law so that licences will not be required in this and similar cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Monaghan Sanatorium.
Under existing legislation, one licence is regarded as covering any number of wireless receiving sets permanently installed at a hospital or sanatorium by the authorities thereof for the use of the patients. Patients who take with them to hospital sets which they are already licensed to keep at their home address are not required to obtain additional licences. I regret that an extension of this concession as requested by the Deputy would not be justified.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, surely everybody would resent—I am sure the Minister certainly would—the State making any profit by charging for a licence on the small comforts provided by relatives for unfortunate patients in sanatoria? The particular case I have in mind is one where the patient already has a licence for a radio set in his own home. His relatives have provided him with a set for his own use in the sanatorium. Must he pay another licence on that?
You are only bound to have one licence.