Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
178. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department is exploring the possibility of a levy or charge on households with subscriptions to streaming services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54655/21]
View answerThe Audiovisual Media Services Directive governs EU-wide coordination of national legislation on all audiovisual media — traditional TV broadcasts and on-demand services. The revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive provides the option to introduce a levy on providers of television broadcasting and video on-demand services available in Ireland to fund the production of European audiovisual content. My Department is currently in the process of transposing this measure through the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
That Bill provides that a levy will not be put in place until the Media Commission has assessed whether the introduction of such a levy is a fair and viable source of funding for Irish content. This will ensure that the Commission, as the independent regulator and the body to be responsible for its implementation, has a role in teasing out all the potential impacts involved and ensuring there are no unintended consequences arising from the introduction of such a levy. Preparatory work for the establishment of the Media Commission is ongoing with a view to the efficient and timely commencement of the Commission’s functions. Consideration of the content levy will be among the Commission’s priorities on establishment.
I wish to stress that the proposals set out in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill do not amount to a direct charge on consumers. Should a levy be imposed by the Media Commission, it would be on the providers of audiovisual media services themselves and not the end-user/consumer/household.
