Public will find it hard to swallow new charge

WHEN he was communications minister Pat Rabbitte floated the idea of a ‘broadcast charge’ for every household, even those without a television. He argued that publicly funded, public service broadcasting and content were available to everyone on an increasing number of devices. He made little or no headway, especially with his Fine Gael cabinet colleagues.

Last year, it looked like the idea was dead when the current Minister Denis Naughten said that the proposed replacement for the TV licence had no chance of being approved by the current Dáil.

Now it’s back on the agenda, with one suggestion that such a charge be collected by the Revenue Commissioners. This, it is claimed, will solve the problem of the 15pc who currently don’t pay the TV licence.

If the idea of a broadcast charge didn’t wash politically five years ago, why would the public now accept another tax that can be increased whenever the Government decides?

People will see it as just another way to fund RTÉ, which is losing advertising to Google and Facebook, who pay little tax in Ireland.

But RTÉ is not the only source of accurate news – there is local and community radio, local newspapers with websites, and the national newspapers, none of which are finding it easy in the digital age. All are part of the “public service” media and all need support.