Mayo TD wants to scrap TV licence following RTÉ scandals

Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has called on government TDs in Mayo to support her party's proposals to end the TV licence and fund RTÉ and other public service media directly through the government budget.

Her published a policy document Delivering sustainable public sector broadcasting and an independent media sector and announced a Dáil motion on the issue, which will be debated this week.

She outlined: "Financial scandals at RTÉ have rocked people's trust and confidence in the national broadcaster and the TV licence.

"The number of people refusing to pay has soared in the aftermath of these scandals.

"Sixty people per day face prosecution for non-payment. A staggering 13,000 people were summoned before the courts last year while no one has been held to account for the incredible waste of public money at RTÉ.

"Government parties are actively considering replacing the licence fee with a new household charge to be collected by Revenue.

"We need a funding model that delivers and sustains vibrant and diverse public sector broadcasting and an independent media sector.

"I am calling on government TDs in Mayo to support our proposals to abolish the licence fee with immediate effect and instead fund public broadcasting from the budget like every other public service.

“This should be done in a platform-neutral Media Fund, which would support RTÉ and TG4 as well as public service content production and activities of commercial, regional and community providers.

“This should go hand in glove with greater accountability and public oversight. We have proposed that the C&AG – the state auditor – should have the power to audit the accounts of RTE.

"The public wants decisive action on this. They have had enough of the mixed messages from the government.

"It is now time to act. The government must end the TV licence.”