Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 793: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reform the way the television licence system is operated here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29530/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I have previously stated my view that in the future we may have to move away from the television licence as a basis for the funding of public service broadcasting. I have, however, no immediate plans in this regard.

However, it is also my view that the licence fee has served us well to date, despite its limitations. It has ensured some measure of independence for RTÉ from both political and commercial pressures. It has also acted as a direct link between audiences and RTÉ, reminding the national public service broadcaster to whom its public service duty is ultimately owed. As such we must review proposed alternatives with caution and due diligence.

Every effort has been made in the Broadcasting Bill 2008 to help make the television licence system more efficient and to reduce evasion, including providing for a fixed payment penalty mechanism and that the television licence fee may be pursued by An Post as a civil debt rather than prosecuted as a criminal offence, thus providing alternatives to criminal proceedings.