Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know independent broadcasters and Local Ireland have been briefing TDs and Senators from all parties. Indeed, they met a delegation from my own parliamentary party to discuss the situation only in the last two weeks. We are very keen to press ahead with this new funding of €6 million, the local democracy reporting fund and the courts reporting fund. This will be of particular benefit to local radio and local newspapers, which are struggling in the current environment, particularly when advertising revenues have fallen off and moved largely online.

As part of the wider reform of the TV licence fee, I think it is fair to say that any reform that is going to be meaningful, must be one that takes account of the fact that public service broadcasting is not just provided by RTÉ, although I think RTÉ does this very well, by the way, notwithstanding some of the issues it has had in recent months. What must also be taken into account is the fact that public service broadcasting is provided not just by RTÉ but also by local radio, local newspapers and the national independent media.

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