Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1202. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if, under the current section 145 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, a statutory body can be appointed at his discretion as the collection agent of the television licence fee and continue to have the full powers of enforcement as currently utilised by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16797/18]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Section 145 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 defines 'issuing agent' as An Post "or another person designated by the Minister" under Section 145 (3) of the Act.

A statutory body designated as an issuing agent under Section 145 (3) of the Act would have the same powers of prosecution as An Post currently has under Section 151 of the Act.

The Act does not currently provide for the tendering of licence fee collection and I obtained Government approval in May 2017 for the drafting of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill which includes an amendment to allow for tendering of licence fee collection by public procurement.  The Bill was examined under pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment, who published their report on 8th March.  My Department and Parliamentary Counsel will consider the Report in the drafting process.