Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1423. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for legislation to ensure that pay television providers operating here must ensure subscribers have a television licence before entering into a contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36789/17]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1424. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to progress the legislation previously approved by Cabinet that would allow the television licence collection agent access to the subscription data of pay television providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36790/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1423 and 1424 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I have obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009. The proposed amendments are currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.

The previous Government gave approval for the preparation of legislation to enable the TV Licence Collection Agent (currently An Post) to access the subscription data held by TV service providers.  This proposal is not being pursued in the current amendments. 

The issue of subscriber contracts is a commercial matter between the subscriber and the contract provider and I have no role in relation to such contracts.