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

I want to state very clearly that all of us who own a TV are obliged to pay a TV licence. It is the law of the land. People should continue to purchase or renew their licence so that RTÉ and others who benefit from the broadcasting fund can continue to provide us with quality public service content. The public reaction to the controversy may be understandable but the licence fee supports a range of content on TV and radio, from drama to sport to current affairs to light entertainment. It is vital to us as a society.

What is paramount is that we put in place a sustainable funding model for public service media. The future of media commission recommended Exchequer funding and the Government decided against it and instead to look at other options to reform the TV licence system. What I have said quite clearly is that given the impact of the controversy on TV licence revenues, the Exchequer model should be reconsidered. It is important to remember the Exchequer already provides significant funding to public service media at just over 60%. There is €70 million for free TV licences, €56 million for TG4, €16 million in interim funding to RTÉ and €6 million to the broadcasting fund. Clearly the Exchequer plays a significant role and we are not seeing any sort of interference. TG4 is almost entirely Exchequer-funded, with €56 million last year and €57 million this year. We never question that this is competing against other vital services.

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