I welcome yesterday's announcement that the Cabinet has approved the amendment of the fair deal scheme to the effect that the 7.5% contribution, based on the family farm or a small business, will apply for a limit of three years and hope it will be expedited. I note that the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Jim Daly, plans to bring the legislation to the committee, as well as here, in the autumn. It will be one of the most important Bills to pass through the House. I would like to see someone who has been assessed for two years based on a family farm or small business being limited to three years or someone who has paid for one year only having to pay for a further two years. They should be allowed to defer the contribution attached to the business or the farm. These are specific points, but they are nonetheless extremely important. There are times when we must acknowledge that a particular measure will make a huge difference to families. I also like the fact that the business or farm will be continued for at least six years. It is a positive measure. I very much look forward to seeing the detail of the legislation. I know from dealing daily with families on the fair deal scheme that this change will make an enormous difference to families throughout the country in availing of nursing home care.

I congratulate Fran McNulty, the RTÉ "Prime Time" reporter who has been appointed as the new correspondent on agriculture and consumer affairs at the national broadcaster. I recognise the contribution made by former Deputy George Lee over five years as RTÉ correspondent on agriculture and the environment. He was very fair and focused and highlighted the issues in farming in a very positive way. He was an excellent correspondent. He brought a certain gravitas to the work and attention to an industry that did not receive that level of coverage in RTÉ until his appointment. RTÉ is funded through the Oireachtas or by those who pay their TV licence fee and we are being well served on the Brexit issue by correspondents such as Tony Connolly, Fiona Mitchell, Sean Whelan and Tommy Gorman. RTE has proved to be one of the most well respected and recognised broadcasters in the world for being fair and broadcasting the real truth of the news, not false news. We should recognise its work and excellent correspondents and reporters, including those on "Morning Ireland" and others throughout the day who give 100% to the people of Ireland. We are very lucky to have such a station in the State.

One of the issues we have not really dealt with in this term in the Oireachtas is the financing of broadcasting. We constantly hear on television and radio advertisements urging people to buy a television licence, rather than face prosecution. There are even advertisements to highlight the fact that holiday homes, caravans and the like are required to have a separate licence if a television is brought to them for the weekend. A lot of money is spent on inspectors in travelling around the country chasing homeowners to check whether they have a television licence. A lot of expenditure is incurred in prosecuting people and even after all of this, there is a significant underpayment of licence fee income if the figures are to be believed. An Post gets a cut of the licence fee revenue it collects. It seems that the time has come to grasp this nettle. It would be far more efficient if the local property tax, when it is being reformed, whereby there would be a lump sum payment per household spread over 12 months, was integrated with the collection mechanism. I know that would not deal with everything because it would not deal with pubs, hotels and places of business, but as far as ordinary householders are concerned, it would seem to be a far more equitable and efficient way of collecting the amount due. If the television licence fee is around €160, a person with a caravan, to be strictly compliant with the law, has to come up with €320 out of his or her pocket every year. How much does someone have to earn if he or she is paying tax at the top rate, as many do, to be able to pay that amount? It turns out that he or she has to earn approximately €640 to pay for two television licences out of his or her after tax earnings. The time has come for the Government to face up to this issue, be honest and collect the fee in an efficient way and give the pretence that it is a licence which is a form of taxation. It is a broadcasting levy. Surely the time has come for us to face up to this issue. It has been hanging around for years, ever since the former Minister for communications, Pat Rabbitte, talked about cavemen. It must be addressed at some stage.