Ms Dee Forbes:

As I said, there are many ways in which the fee could be collected. We must get to a solution that is fair, transparent and accountable. Those are the priority characteristics. An Post is the current collection agent and it has had issues with the way in which its contract has been rolled over. It has asked for help with the database. We are at a point where we need an overhaul of the system to really reflect the current ways of viewing, watching and listening. The notion of a television licence fee is outdated because of what people are viewing in so many other ways.

It is important for us to discuss the range of options because there is probably no bad option. As I said, there are many different options in play around Europe and we are not the only country that has seen huge evasion rates over the years. Other countries have grappled with it and came up with a solution, whether it is a charge or taxation system. A number of countries have come to a place where they are happy with this. That is part of the reason The Future of Media Commission was set up and it sought to look at the funding of public service broadcasting.

The Senator is correct also in speaking about the sustainability of the Irish media sector because we are a vulnerable sector. We are a nation squeezed between two English-speaking giants that have very strong media and broadcasting players. We are sort of in the middle of that. To maintain the Irish voice and strong independent Irish journalism, the commission was again asked to look at the wider sector. As I mentioned, the €65 million out there in uncollected or evaded fees could go an awful long way not just with RTÉ but the wider sector as well.