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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.
Meanwhile 8000 army personnel in barracks with little to do all day…
@Aire Dezamba:
Its a nice thought ? You don’t expect the Army to to police hooligans on public transport Draft all the hooligans into the Army
@Alan Scott: no I am expecting them to get rid of the gangs and drug dealers.
@Aire Dezamba: it’s funny that so many areas there is no money for. Yet every budget , there is over an extra half billion for an already insane welfare spend …
An Garda Siochana have enough to tackle without being involved in the issues involving public transport. Ticket checks by inspectors on Dublin Bus are as rare as they’ve ever been. Anti social behaviour, drug use and dealing and fare evasion are rife on our public transport system and no Minister give a flying fcuk because they don’t use it, unless it’s first class service on Irish Rail. Meanwhile the general public run the gauntlet going about their business and hope they get home from their days work with their belonging in tack and their clothes odour free of smoke. It’s time for a dedicated transport police policy.
@Paul Linehan: I was on the luas going to Broadstone there was a ticket check on the way there and another one on the way back I returned on the red line with no sign of a check on either side.
@Alan Scott: To be fair to the Luas. I’ve seen plenty of ticket checks on both lines and security interventions for anti social issues.
FFS I’ve been saying it for years as it’s been everywhere else in the world for years. Fukin no brainer ideas take generations to be seen as sensible in this country.
@Pip: I’m not aware of any country apart from Britain with a transport police. NYC merged theirs with the NYPD some time ago
So the only alternative is when public service vehicle’s been stoned is to make all of the Communities suffer by pulling the service? You put that against Ministerial cars been stoned you will get a swift reaction from the Garda .Two sets of rules for the same job.
Cosy relationship with the government in the top brass of the Gardaí, any attempt to usurp the elite and offer another force to compare the performance of the Gardaí will obviously be met with reluctance. Charlie Flanagan acting as a mouthpiece for those in charge of the Gardaí. Why does the article not have a quote from the Garda commissioner on this proposal?
@BreadBasketCase: harbor police were disbanded against Garda wishes. Airport police are glorified security and an Garda siochana has repeatedly called for the airport police to become a fully fledged police force.
So really, your talking shite
Flanagan belongs in a retirement home!
Many thanks to all engaging in antisocial behavior on green luas and other posh “specific areas”. Without you this would never have been possible.
CCTV is great but it’s after the fact.
The value of Police presence is worth so much more.
Meanwhile they send 400 Garda to Donbeg,Co.Clare to “protect” Trump!
@F Fitzgerald Ne Reeves: when?
Full of sh*t
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