Mayo call to scrap forced TV licence amid payments scandal
The Aontú representative for Mayo Paul Lawless has called on the government to end the forced TV license fee used to prop up an untrustworthy broadcaster.
Following the RTÉ payments scandal Lawless said: “Yesterday we received the shocking news that RTE has been paying one of its top earners, Ryan Tubridy, far beyond what the public broadcaster was declaring.
"At the same time RTÉ were boldly pressing the government to punish the Irish public with both an increase in the forced license fee and extra fines and prison sentences for those who refused to pay amidst RTE's cries of poverty.
"It must be noted that as recent as January of last year Moya Doherty, the outgoing chair of the RTÉ board, was pressing the government to increase their license fee as she lamented what she claimed was dire financial situation in RTÉ all, the while, RTÉ were lying about the outrageous money they were giving is highest paid staffer.
"Doherty warned politicians: 'These profound shifts outline both the difficulties created for the national broadcaster and the increased importance of public service media at a time of unprecedented disruption.'
"Doherty then lamented the competition from social media and streaming sites. This is even more outrageous."
Lawless continued: "If less people are tuning in to RTÉ, then why are people being forced to pay for a service they don't avail of.
"They want to bully the public into being involuntary consumers and then publicly lie about the lavish wages they give their senior staff from our taxes.
"RTÉ cannot be trusted. The Irish people don't deserve to be patronised and abused in such a fashion.
"It is time to have a conversation on what to do with a license fee instead of pouring it into a self interested institution.
"Let's have a conversation on either abolishing the license fee or spending public money directly on Irish material or grants for cultural, musical and sports related promotion.
“A conversation must start as the status quo has proven by its own merits that it can not be allowed to continue on the taxpayers time and the taxpayers dime," added Mr. Lawless