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TV licence decision expected by 'end of July' as committee recommends multi-annual RTÉ funding

All indications are a decision won’t be reached by the time the Dáil rises.

LAST UPDATE | 2 Jul 2024

THE TV LICENCE fee should be scrapped and RTÉ should instead be funded through Coimisiún na Meán, the Dáil’s Oireachtas media committee is to recommend.

Government ministers are still at loggerheads over the future of the TV licence fee and RTÉ funding. 

Media Minister Catherine Martin met with the three coalition leaders last night to discuss the issue, which was the latest in a series of bilateral meetings with the aim of finding a consensus. 

Martin is advocating for direct Exchequer funding for RTÉ, stating last week that she would like to see “five to seven year ring fenced” funding for the national broadcaster.

The minister has been fighting an uphill battle as the idea is being opposed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, as well as the new Finance Minister Jack Chambers. 

However, her idea of abolishing the licence fee and replacing it with direct government funding is being endorsed by the committee. 

The committee’s report, seen by The Journal, recommends that multi-annual funding arrangements should be  index-linked basis for public service media and public service content providers.

No decision reached

It is understood there was a “detailed discussion” at the meeting last night with the party leaders, as well as Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and the finance minister. However, no decision was made. 

Government sources have said a decision on the matter will be made by the end of July, but not necessarily by the time the Dáil rises on 11 July. 

Speaking on RTÉ News at One Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien also indicated that the decision could be brought after the Dáil rises, stating that that the Cabinet will continue to meet in the month of July. 

Donohoe said last week 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, in response, the media minister said “multi-annual” funding would avoid budget wrangling. 

However, senior sources have noted that there are many agencies that would prefer to have multi-annual funding, such as the HSE, and that one rule cannot just be applied to one area and not another. 

Martin said 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. 

RTÉ officials are also due to appear at the Oireachtas Committee on Arts and Media later to discuss the various issues relating to the reform of the national broadcaster. 

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    Mute Aidan Boran
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:13 PM

    best treatment is whiskey and sand.

    Massage one or two shots of whiskey, then add handful of sand to the scalp….

    nits get drunk and kill each other throwing stones…

    472
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    Mute The Girl
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:16 PM

    @Aidan Boran: Really? Must try that…but then why waste whisky?

    21
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    Mute Patabake Kennedy
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    Feb 8th 2018, 12:51 AM

    @Aidan Boran: May only apply to Irish Lice.

    67
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    Mute Margaret O Neill
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    Feb 8th 2018, 3:31 PM

    @Aidan Boran: best laugh I’ve had in weeks. Thanks Aidan

    8
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    Mute Boutros Boutros-Ghali
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:07 PM

    I might be nitpicking, but I don’t think you’re meant to smoke while you treat your children’s scalps. Lousy carry on.

    315
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 8th 2018, 2:49 AM

    All done, just need a candle to read the small print…

    23
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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:37 PM

    30 years ago this was an issue too.. although, 30 yesterday ago, head lice cream had plutonium in it.

    17
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    Mute Boutros Boutros-Ghali
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:42 PM

    @Peter Cavey: Lice cream and jelly

    23
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    Mute Andy K
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    Feb 8th 2018, 6:53 AM

    @Peter Cavey: It just got rid of all the hair then? I guess that’s one way to be live free.

    5
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    Mute Dean Anderson
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    Feb 8th 2018, 6:18 AM

    “Is there anything you can prescribe doctor?” –Homer Simpson
    “Fire &lots of it.” – Dr Hibbert
    “Oh, that’s your cure for everything ” – Marge Simpson

    14
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    Mute
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:40 PM

    What are vegans thoughts on killing these little creatures…

    70
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    Mute Boutros Boutros-Ghali
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:41 PM

    @: I think they go for clean hair, so they’re not typically a worry for vegans.

    104
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    Mute Jackie Carvill Caruana
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    Feb 8th 2018, 7:46 AM

    @Boutros Boutros-Ghali: I’ve always heard that head lice love clean hair. Do vegans have clean hair in general? The ones I know don’t!

    12
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    Mute Desmodromic
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    Feb 8th 2018, 2:11 PM

    We see what you did there – sneaky!

    1
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    Mute Sean
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    Feb 8th 2018, 8:33 AM

    I saw a girls hair go on fire in a church once. It was heavily lacquered and the fire took hold instantly. An unlikely but quick witted hero took off his jacket and threw it over her head smothering out the flames. But for him she would have been in serious trouble because the rest of us were just standing there mouths agape.

    14
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    Mute JJ
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    Feb 8th 2018, 11:10 AM

    I was at a bonfire once. Was deadly.

    6
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    Mute Tomas
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:07 PM

    Fecking fire flea’s ffs

    14
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    Mute Marie Okeeffe
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    Feb 8th 2018, 4:59 PM

    Tea tree oil the best treatment for them and its natural

    6
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    Mute Michael Wynne
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    Feb 7th 2018, 11:18 PM

    Well I think that’ll kill the little f***ers for sure

    28
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