TV licence funding model
Deputy Gould argues the TV licence should be scrapped and replaced by direct Exchequer funding, with an amnesty for non-payers. The Taoiseach says the licence remains law, rejects a digital tax, criticises Sinn Féin’s proposal, and says a new funding model will be decided this year.
It is time to scrap the TV licence. In the wake of the financial scandals at RTÉ and more than 100,000 people who have not paid their TV licence, it is now time for it to go. Public support for the licence has collapsed and the idea that the State would chase thousands of people through the courts is, frankly, absurd. The Taoiseach has described the TV licence as outdated and has said we need a new funding model that works. Sinn Féin's motion tonight proposes that the licence fee be scrapped and replaced with direct Exchequer funding to fund public service media and broadcasting in the State. I urge the Taoiseach to scrap the TV licence and fund public service broadcasting directly.
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I agree that the TV licence is outmoded. However, it remains the law. I encourage people to comply with the law and continue to pay it. It is not just about RTÉ; it is about other forms of public service broadcasting, Irish language programming and, indeed, programming for children and the arts. The Government will make a decision this year on a new funding model, which will either be a household charge collected by Revenue or Exchequer funding.
I had a chance to read the Sinn Féin policy.
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There is a nice picture of the Deputy and Deputy Pearse Doherty in it but it is pretty comical. I am sorry to say that but it is.
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That is an awful thing to say to me.
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Parts of it are copied and pasted from the Future of Media Commission report. Sinn Féin's proposal to introduce an amnesty for people who did not pay is deeply insulting to people who comply with the law and do pay.
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Just think about all those people who collect the stamps or who pay their bills and have done so for years. It is an insult and a kick in the teeth for them. The oddest thing in the policy is the proposal that we continue to pay €12.5 million a year to An Post for not collecting the charge when it is abolished. I am all for supporting An Post but giving people €12 million a year to collect a charge that does not exist anymore-----
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Post offices are closing down every month.