Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

No. The total proceeds in 2014 was €213.2 million and the total proceeds in 2015 was €213.9 million, a difference of an extra €700,000. In 2015, the total income from licence sales was €1,018,444 and in 2014 it was €1,018,370, a marginal difference. That was the reason for the marginal difference in the proceeds.

In respect of the comments I made on the national economic dialogue, I inadvertently referred to the comments as those of the Secretary General, Robert Watt, instead of attributing them to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe as it was he who pointed out that we need to look at how we are spending the money rather than cutting left, right and centre. It is important that we look at how we are spending the money and ensure we are spending it in the best way possible rather than always looking for new money, which I will be looking for. I believe there is merit in that.

In regard to the collection of the television licence fee, one could look at changing from An Post, but that is not what I am looking at currently. I had a meeting with An Post last week. I expressed my concern about the level of evasion. I know that An Post is coming forward with an initiative in the next couple of months. I want to see progress on this in the short term. In tandem with that, we are looking at the existing database. We have had independent consultants look at the existing database in the context of the local property tax register, the electricity meter register and to look at other ways of identifying people who may be evading the television licence fee.

There are also issues relating to content charges being explored, so it is not just about the television licence. There are other avenues for us to pursue in that regard.

The Chairman asked me earlier about Brexit. There is potential to develop the film industry in this country on foot of Brexit. Conditions are being put down at Commission level on the percentage of content that must be generated within the European Union for the likes of Netflix and so forth. We will be the only English-speaking country left in the European Union and there may be potential for growth in that regard. There are opportunities for us, particularly in the broadcasting area. There are implications that may benefit revenue streams for broadcasters as well, and we are actively looking at such issues now.