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Ministers still at loggerheads over RTÉ funding as Martin says broadcasting tax not ‘palatable’

Donohoe said he does not believe the TV licence fee funding should be scrapped.

MEDIA MINISTER CATHERINE Martin has said there should be a “five to seven year ringfenced” funding for RTÉ. 

Here comments come amidst disagreement in government over how the national broadcaster should be funded into the future, with Martin stating she is in favour of direct Exchequer funding. 

This idea is being opposed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and outgoing Finance Minister Michael McGrath.

Donohoe said earlier today that he does not believe the TV licence fee should be scrapped and replaced with direct Exchequer funding for RTÉ.

He said the government will have to make up the shortfall and that ultimately, money which could be used for social welfare increases or childcare would go to the national broadcaster to fill the licence fee gap.

“We shouldn’t let that happen,” he said.

However, when Donohoe’s comments were posed to Martin, she disputed his take on the matter, stating:

“I don’t see the argument of how it was can compete on an annual budget, because what would be proposed, as the Future of the Media Commission recommended, is that it would be multi-annual. I would see that as being a five to seven year ringfenced amount that would be recommended by an independent regulator,” said the media minister. 

She went on to say the alternative is the reform of the licence fee to a broadcasting tax, which would be collected by Revenue, which she believed would be not be “palatable” to the public. 

 

 

In his argument not retain the revenue collected through the TV licence fee, Donohoe said it brings in “valuable money that we should not lose”. 

“The majority of people still pay the television licence. They pay it out of a recognition of the work that RTE does and its value,” he said. 

If licence fee revenue is lost, the government will have to find tens of millions of Euro to plug the hole, said the minister.

“I don’t believe we should be abolishing a charge that the majority of people are still paying,” he added. 

A decision on the future funding for RTÉ is due to be made before the summer. 

Donohoe said the government will ulitimately have to reach an agreement in relation to the issue in the next few weeks. 

“I have heard differing views from many people who are involved in this process. But we do need to make a decision on it and we will,” he said. 

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bacoxy
    Favourite bacoxy
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:00 PM

    I wish them the best of luck, really funny and well observed shorts.

    663
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    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:11 PM

    Skinny jeans!

    219
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    Mute Ronan Stokes
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    Aug 15th 2015, 9:14 PM

    I wonder how John is gettin on with the Iraqi?

    144
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    Mute Conor Power
    Favourite Conor Power
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:03 PM

    Only complaint I have is that there are not a few more episodes!

    481
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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:23 PM

    More episodes please.

    Hilarious stuff

    292
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    Mute Supernova
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:09 PM

    This and Sminky Shorts are very good.I dont know would the yanks get it though.

    253
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    Mute The Girl
    Favourite The Girl
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:01 PM

    It’s times like that I’m proud to be Irish..

    200
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    Mute Aaron Kavanagh
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:59 PM

    I love Martin’s Life!

    I wonder if people outside of Ireland would get the humour, though.

    125
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    Mute Jess Foley
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:31 PM

    hilarious

    117
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    Mute Anthony John Cotter
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    Aug 15th 2015, 6:44 PM

    Love the four, we need to roar for more.

    107
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    Mute Fiona Wederfoort
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:23 PM

    ‘A couple of what?’ ‘A couple of gay people!!’ HILARIOUS….we need more!!!!

    105
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    Mute Mac L0ve
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    Aug 15th 2015, 9:18 PM

    How could you not hear “game of throws”?

    94
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    Mute Boxer Alice
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:28 PM

    Martin’s Life is just so funny! Whoever writes it deserves an award of some kind. I do feel only an Irish audience would get it though, but nothing wrong with that!

    74
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    Mute Larry David the 2nd
    Favourite Larry David the 2nd
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    Aug 15th 2015, 10:05 PM

    “Tis’nt it well for them the bisexuals ”

    I bloody love this series!

    74
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    Mute Michael O'connor
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:37 PM

    Very funny. good luck with it lads

    63
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    Mute molly coddled
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:40 PM

    Brilliant, hope you do incredibly well.

    51
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    Mute Louise Morris
    Favourite Louise Morris
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:10 PM

    Too funny, my tummy aches. The only other laugh I got like this is for David O’ Doherty (comedian) . Check him out on you tube if you need more laughs like this. I love being Irish and our accents are the best !

    45
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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Aug 15th 2015, 8:57 PM

    it’s a small world!!!!!!!

    43
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    Mute eoin o mahony
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    Aug 18th 2015, 8:36 PM
    1
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    Mute sonny red
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:17 AM

    Jaysus,those dwarfs are comical.I wonder do they get paid.

    25
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    Mute Cheeto Ballsack
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    Aug 15th 2015, 11:17 PM

    This is brilliant

    21
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    Mute Elizabeth Rohan Lenihan
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:26 AM

    Absolutely love Martin’ Life. Can’t wait for more. My 91 year old mother loves them too!!

    18
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    Mute sonny red
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    Aug 16th 2015, 2:10 AM

    He’s watching a game of throws,with that small fella and mcully culkin.hahaha

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    Mute Sean O'Malley
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    Aug 15th 2015, 7:04 PM

    youtube search: morning after night in coppers

    8
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    Mute Stephen Mullan
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    Aug 15th 2015, 10:45 PM

    Thing is anyone can make those cartoons. They’re on a package you buy online for €9.99 a month. You just pick your characters, hair colour, clothes etc and put your voice to it. So to say he’s too lazy to do more of them just makes you think. How lazy is he?

    8
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    Mute Laithbheartaigh
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    Aug 16th 2015, 12:48 PM

    ignorance is bliss to some people i guess, over the top superlatives!

    9
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    Mute Laithbheartaigh
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    Aug 16th 2015, 12:29 PM

    This is done using GoAnimate software and is not hard to do, its the script thats the hard thing, which is very funny in this case.

    5
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