RTÉ licence fee reform
Deputy Chambers asked whether the Broadcasting Bill would be amended to address licence fee reform and RTÉ’s funding crisis. The Tánaiste said the Government was open to constructive amendments and that discussions with RTÉ would inform the Bill.
In the context of the funding crisis in RTÉ and the job losses, the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019 does not provide for licence fee reform. Will the Government bring forward amendments on Committee Stage to address the issue or will it kick-it-to-touch for five years, as mentioned previously?
Comment on this
I understand that legislation has completed Second Stage. The Government is open to constructive amendments. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Richard Bruton, will meet RTÉ to discuss in detail its plans for reform, change and, in some cases, cost savings. The debate on the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2019 will be in light of that conversation.