Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal, Louise O’Reilly, has “slammed” the government for failing to scrap the TV licence, claiming that the broadcaster should receive direct exchequer funding instead.
“We know that both Fianna Fáil and the Green party supported the scrapping of the TV licence,” she said in a statement today.
“Instead of sticking to their belief that this levy is outdated and regressive, they backed down to pressure from Fine Gael. This is undeniable proof that this government are terrified of anything that threatens the status quo.”
O’Reilly said that ordinary people are being “dragged through the courts” for licence fee non-payment, and that Media Minister Catherine Martin “knows this is wrong but refuses to stand up for these people.”
“Sinn Féin had a clear and credible proposal that would have seen RTÉ funded through direct exchequer funding and ordinary households no longer forced to bear the burden of this regressive levy,” she continued.
“I am calling on them again to ensure that RTE come under the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General. It is the best way to ensure that there is full accountability in RTE’s accounts and financial decision making processes.”
The Sinn Féin TD went on to say that funding for broadcasters like RTÉ would be “critical in the coming years.
“The funding of original television production, vibrant national and local radio as well as empowering local and regional journalism is critical in the coming years,” she said.
“We need a healthy and broad range of actors from RTÉ, TG4 and Virgin Media Television, to more local radio and press, to produce high quality content of public value across a wide range of mediums including TV, radio, newspapers and online.”
The remarks come after Minister Martin confirmed today that the government’s new multi-annual funding plan for RTÉ will include a €725 million over three years. This includes €225m next year, €240m in 2026, and €260m in 2027.
During questioning by reporters in Dublin, she denied that this was a ‘blank cheque’, or a reward for irresponsible conduct.
"A reward for being wasteful and negligent...how can you look the people of Ireland in the eye and defend this situation?": Media Minister Catherine Martin is grilled on the government's plan to bail out RTÉ, despite the broadcaster wasting the public funding it already had. pic.twitter.com/B9KIe4WJjn
— gript (@griptmedia) July 24, 2024