Tánaiste Micheál Martin has stated that the television licence charge will remain in place “for some time to come”, reports RTE.
His remarks follow rumours that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar supports RTÉ receiving direct money from the exchequer.
Although there are “differing strands of views” on the matter, Mr. Martin said that Paschal Donohoe, the ministers of finance and public expenditure and reform, have both stated “that full exchequer funding would be very, very challenging.”
Later this year, the government is likely to make a decision regarding public service broadcasting funding. A new system is scheduled to be implemented by 2025.
Mr Martin said: “I’ve made the point that the existing licence fee is going to be here for some time to come. I would urge people to pay the licence fee to support RTÉ and public sector broadcasting. But also I’d be very concerned that any future funding model has to facilitate separation of Government and media to guarantee the independence of media and, into the future, funding will be supporting both RTÉ and public service content in other broadcasters, local and national and in print media,” reports RTE.
“It is very important that that independence be ring-fenced,” he added, reports RTE.
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