The Government is to introduce a new system that will see households being charged a fee whether they have a TV in their home or not.
Under new proposals being brought forward by the Department of Communications, homeowners will be charged for using a tablet or smartphone to watch online content such as Netflix.
The new so device independent charge will apparently replace the current TV licence system once a five year tender for independent TV licence collectors runs out.
Speaking to RTÉ the communications Minister Richard Bruton, said the changes are necessary as it has become clear that the media landscape has changed.
Bruton told the broadcaster that more and more people are changing how they view content and therefore they are coming up with ways to avoid paying the current TV licence.
He added that the current rate of avoidance as 12% and many of those who avoid paying their licence claim that they don’t view content in the traditional form, i.e via a television – but instead via their laptop, tablet or smartphone.
The Communications Minister did however state that such measures will take time to introduce, but reiterated that the government must act in order to adapt with how technology has advanced and how viewing content is consumed.