Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I agree the collection methods are outmoded. I ask the Minister, as I have many times, to take an example from most of Europe, which has the simple system of an audiovisual tax on every single house unless one opts out - anyone can opt out if he or she does not have a television or audiovisual equipment. The cost of collecting the licence fee constantly annoys me because it is inefficient. There should simply be an audiovisual tax. In countries such as France, property owners get a letter from the tax authorities at some stage during the course of the year and the letter states how much the audiovisual tax will be and gives the option of applying to opt out if required - one opts out rather than opting in. No one is left wondering whether there will be new excuses for not paying our television licence, or whatever the advertisement says.

I recently tried to work out the figures. I presume RTE is being paid some fee for carrying the advertising for the collection of television licence fees in order to keep RTE going. It is going around in a circle. This is not the most efficient way and the Minister should take a hand to it and sort it out. Every house should pay unless people opt out because they have no television.