Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

That is why I have always set out the good that comes from people paying their television licence fee. I understand the anger in the past few weeks, particularly among the public. The licence fee is a legal requirement but it is also fundamentally about protecting public service broadcasting as a public good that benefits us all. It is vital to emphasise the importance of public service broadcasting to our democracy and society. The widespread public anger at the revelations in recent weeks is understandable but we cannot lose sight of the public good that is public service broadcasting.

As I said, €6 million has been allocated for the establishment of the media fund this year, which is very much a step in the right direction for what the Deputy is seeking. We have chosen to prioritise the local democracy reporting and the courts reporting schemes. These schemes concern things that are very much of a local nature. I suspect that local radio licences will apply and if successful, will become beneficiaries of this scheme.

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