Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 6

Written Answers. - Exercise of Judical Functions.

Séamus Hughes

Ceist:

91 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on comments by a District Justice on 13 December 1994, when he applied the Probation Act to a large number of persons charged with having no television licences; whether he will consider introducing a waiver scheme for those cases of hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2535/95]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

Under the Constitution the Judiciary are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and it would not be appropriate for me to express a view on the comments of a District Justice.

The present position is that, under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1926 to 1988, a television set constitutes apparatus for wireless telegraphy. Under the Acts it is an offence for a person to possess apparatus for wireless telegraphy unless such possesison is authorised by a licence for the time being in force. The Wireless Telegraphy Acts do not provide for the exemption of individuals from the requirement to hold a licence and I have no plans to introduce a waiver such as the Deputy suggests.

An Post, which under the Postal and Telecommunications Act, 1983, has delegated responsibility for the television licence fee collection system, is conscious of the fact that payment of the annual licence fee might represent a particular difficulty for those on low incomes. In recognition of this, An Post operates the television licence saving stamp scheme which allows for the purchase of £1 and £5 stamps during the course of a year towards the cost of the licence. I understand from An Post that sales of savings stamps amount to approximately £9 million per annum which represents 16 per cent of annual licence sales.

Furthermore, I understand that during this year, through the household budget scheme, which is operated for the Department of Social Welfare by An Post, the facility of deductions at source in respect of the licence fee will be available to weekly unemployment recipients.