John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

While I share the concern expressed by Senator Quinn and other Members to the effect that the collection of television licence fees should be efficient and effective, I do not propose to accept this amendment. The issue of the television licence fee and the manner in which it is collected is being reviewed actively in the context of the draft general scheme of the forthcoming broadcasting Bill. As the Senator is probably aware, the draft general scheme has been submitted to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources for public consultation under the e-consultation initiative. I understand there has been considerable comment during the course of the consultation process on the basis for the television licence fee, its collection and whether suitable alternatives exist. The Government proposes to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of this issue in light of the outcome of the e-consultation process.

As for the issues raised by Members, a variety of mechanisms are used to fund public service broadcasting. Most of northern Europe avails of television licences. The Netherlands applies a special levy on income tax, France levies a household tax, Spain and Flanders provide direct Exchequer funding while Greece, Turkey and Cyprus avail of television licences. The United Kingdom, which is most similar to Ireland, recently reviewed the concept of the television licence and decided that while it is not a perfect system, no immediate alternative exists. The British authorities will review the issue in 2012.

As the Government is considering this issue at present in the context of the wider broadcasting Bill, on which consultation is under way, this matter is not appropriate to the Bill under consideration. However, I share the Members' sentiments and I expect the matter will be dealt with more effectively when the forthcoming broadcasting Bill comes before the Houses of the Oireachtas.