Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
367. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department would be in support of replacing An Post by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners as the collection agents of TV licence fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37808/22]
View answerThe media sector in Ireland, which is a vital element of our democracy and society as a whole, is undergoing fundamental change, for the most part driven by advances in technology and the manner in which we ourselves consume media content.
A key element in this was the establishment of the Future of Media Commission, which was chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith. The report of the Future of Media Commission and its recommendations were considered by Government and the report is now published. It is important to note that Government has agreed in principle to accept 49 of the Commission’s 50 recommendations.
Having carefully considered the Commission’s funding recommendations the Government is of the view that a move to an Exchequer-based funding for Public Service Media raises certain concerns for the actual and perceived independence of media funding. The additional burden for the Exchequer in moving to such a model at a time of significant budgetary pressures was also a factor in the Government's decision.
The Commission did not recommend, nor did Government decide, that the Revenue Commissioners should replace An Post as collection agent. Rather Government decided to reform and enhance the current TV licence fee system and to establish a technical group to examine how this can be achieved and to report back to the Minister and to Government in November of this year.
