Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government must scrap the TV licence and support public service media through direct Exchequer funding. This was recommended in the report of the Future of Media Commission. There has been a loss of confidence in the wake of the scandals in RTÉ and this loss has not been helped by this week's additional scandals and announcements regarding the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, the RTÉ board and who knew what when the bumper exit packages were being paid out to top executives. The Government cannot use this mess to put reform on the back foot or to push back the clear need to abolish the TV licence, a licence the Taoiseach himself has described as outdated. Other Government TDs, including even the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, have acknowledged that the licence fee is regressive and that a new funding model is needed. For the sake of public service broadcasting, will the Government abolish the licence fee and provide direct Exchequer funding?

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