Written answers
Thursday, 22 February 2024
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Television Licence Fee
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, what discussions her Department had with RTÉ and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in summer 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8494/24]
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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157. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in the summer of 2023, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, the reason she informed the committee on 28 November 2023 that the matter had not been discussed with her Department; if she will request that the records of the committee be changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8495/24]
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, if she was party to these discussions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8496/24]
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, if she was not party to these discussions, whether she was briefed on these discussions; if so, on what date any such briefing took place; if she will provide a copy of any documentary or digital briefing that exists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8498/24]
Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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160. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to comments made by the RTÉ director general (details supplied) at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts Sport and Media on 14 February 2024, that RTÉ had discussions with her Department and An Post in relation to the stopping of advertising of the TV licence fee in the summer of 2023, and that the decision was made in conjunction with these parties, if minutes of these discussions were kept; if so, if these minutes will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8499/24]
Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 to 160, inclusive, together.
Firstly, and as I have stated before, while RTÉ is not the TV licence-issuing agent, nor the sole beneficiary of TV licence receipts, it is appropriate that they air adverts to remind the public of the statutory obligation to purchase a TV licence, and to highlight the public service content which it supports. The costs involved are fully borne by RTÉ and no additional financial provisions are made by my Department for such advertising.
Section 98 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009, provides for RTÉ’s independence in the pursuit of its public service objects, and this is particularly important with regard to all content, editorial and scheduling decisions. Given this statutory independence, neither I nor my Department have any direct role in the content, timing or frequency of TV licence ads. This is ultimately a programming decision for RTÉ, and as the RTÉ Director General stated at the Oireachtas Committee meeting on 14 February last, the decision to cease TV licence adverts was his and RTÉ’s. I understand that the view was that, in the early days after the crisis broke, it might not have been helpful and in fact it could have been counterproductive, to have advertising on local radio and other media on this matter.
My officials do meet regularly with An Post and RTÉ in relation to the TV licence and related matters. The decision to temporarily cease advertising taken by RTÉ was conveyed to my officials. However, for the avoidance of any doubt, my officials were not involved in the decision making process and as such, my Department does not hold any relevant records. Similarly, the subsequent decision to recommence the adverts, following a refresh of the content, on RTÉ’s own platforms was made by RTÉ. I also understand that advertising on non-RTÉ platforms has now recommenced and I welcome that. The content and messaging of those adverts remains a matter for RTÉ.
The TV licence plays an essential role in providing funding for vital public service content on RTÉ and other services supported by the Broadcasting Fund, and as such it remains vitally important that people continue to purchase a TV licence when liable to do so.
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