I refer the Deputy to the answer given to a similar question on 5 July 1990, columns 447 to 449, volume No. 401, No. 2 of the Official Report for that day.
The total arrears outstanding as at 31 December 1990 are estimated to be £431,123. At this stage 13 licensees are in arrears. Of these, four companies owe less than £1,000 and a further five owe less than £5,000. Most of the money outstanding is the subject of agreement with the individual companies concerned and there is no reason to believe that this part of the arrears will not be paid over the next few years.
The Department initiated legal action against one particularly recalcitrant payer with the intention of using experience gained in this case against other such companies. However, before the case was heard in court, the arrears were paid in full. The Chief State Sollicitor has been asked to initiate legal action against another company.
My Department will continue to collect outstanding amounts through routine follow-up action of individual cases; legal action; refusal to consider applications for consent to increase charges unless outstanding licence fees are addressed in a satisfactory way and refusal to consent to the transfer of licences unless my Department are also satisfied with regard to outstanding licence fees.