There has been significant criticism from the public online of plans to continue funding RTÉ into the future with both the existing TV licence fee and a “multi-annual” payment in public funding.
The plan is due to go to the Cabinet next Wednesday, but government sources have confirmed to RTÉ News that the existing TV licence fee of €160 will be retained, and that in addition, public funding exchequer will also be provided to the broadcaster on a “multi-annual” basis.
It was reported that “Minister for Media Catherine Martin pushed for any exchequer funding to be multi-annual to make sure RTÉ is financially secure into the future”.
However, some commentators online saw this as ‘rewarding’ RTÉ for the scandals that have engulfed the station for more than a year, and led to significant public anger.
Figures released in March 2024, showed that TV licence sales had fallen by almost €22 million in the eight months since RTE found itself embroiled in a the controversies over payments. The figures showed that some 137,057 fewer households across Ireland paid the €160 TV licence fee at that time with lost revenue amounting to €21,928,120.
Last July, a Dublin District Court judge slammed those he described as “freeloaders” in RTÉ, who he said were involved in “shenanigans” that had left him “appalled and disgusted” – while those before him for failure to pay a TV licence were “crippled by the cost of living.”
Judge Anthony Halpin was presiding over prosecutions brought against those who had not paid their €160 annual television licence fees at a special weekly sitting for that purpose.
The judge said that he was “disgusted and appalled” by the recent revelations about the national broadcaster, saying the revelations have rocked the very foundations of the national public broadcaster and have sent, not ripples, but seismic shock waves throughout the organisation,” he told the court.
There has been months of debate on the future funding of the broadcaster, with RTÉ representatives appearing before Oireachtas Committees seeking fresh monies for the organisation – a move that was strongly contested by TDs such as Ind Mattie McGrath. The decision to continue with the licence fee in addition to taxpayer funding was not universally welcomed.
“RTE’s reward for the scandals is to get MORE taxpayer money AND keep the TV license,” was one response on X.
RTE's reward for the scandals is to get MORE taxpayer money AND keep the TV license. 'Multi-annual' exchequer funds, licence fee to fund RTÉ https://t.co/4nJAgDmfc5 via @rte
— Barry O'Sullivan (@siliconbarry) July 18, 2024
“More funding Still want same licence fee It’s still an unwatchable product. RTE would not survive as a stand alone company. So why is it being propped up? It’s product is also outdated and needs brought into modern times,” was another.
More funding
— Emmet Rushe (@rushefitness) July 19, 2024
Still want same licence fee
It's still an unwatchable product.
RTE would not survive as a stand alone company.
So why is it being propped up?
It's product is also outdated and needs brought into modern times. https://t.co/JvBFBJ8ZDe
In a scathing post on X, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy in UCD, Gerard Casey, wrote:
“Hands up all those whose lives would become immeasurably poorer if RTE ceased to exist.
[Resounding silence punctuated by some embarrassed hollow coughs.]
Who actually wants RTE? Well, the Government, whose propaganda arm RTE is, do, and they’re prepared to have you pay for it at a cost of a mere “€256m a year.” Is that all? How generous of them!”
“As the Government parties tie themselves up in knots during Budget discussions figuring out by how much and by what means their vanity project of RTE is to be financed, here’s a radical suggestion— pull all public funding from the station and let it go out on it own,” he said.
“The idea of a ’National Broadcaster’ is an ideological antique, a relic of old decency from another time, far, far, away. If the free-floating RTE provides a service that anyone wants, it will survive. If, as seems more likely, it doesn’t, then it will go the way of all unprofitable and unwanted enterprises—and good riddance. There. Problem solved. Now on to the next item on the Budget.”
Others saw the promise of multi-annual payments as a bailout for the station: with one comment describing it as RTÉ “bailed it out with your tax payer cash”.
Simon Harris and Micheal Martin personally fought to maintain the TV license for this corrupt self referential propaganda machine. Plus they bailed it out with your tax payer cash . @rte news : 'Multi-annual' exchequer funds, licence fee to fund RTÉhttps://t.co/B1l67bN4IP
— Colm O Niadh (@ColmONe89571824) July 18, 2024
However. supporters of the station, say it provides a valuable public service and point to news, sports, arts, and culture programming that would not be provided without the licence fee.
Meanwhile, Independent broadcasters who operate local radio have said they are seeking €6.1 million in State support “to tackle challenges in news and current affairs coverage”.
They say that local radio stations are listened to by seven out of 10 Irish people, and the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) are seeking short-term grants worth €179,000 on average to each station.