Finance Minister Jack Chambers has said Media Minister Catherine Martin cannot "concede a source of income" by abolishing the TV licence fee as he once again ruled out the idea of direct exchequer funding for RTÉ.
As he was backed up by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, Mr Chambers warned Media Minister Catherine Martin that scrapping the tax would "undermine our wider economic message" and that ministers must "prioritise" what funding they are seeking.
The Government row over future funding for the national broadcaster is continuing, with Ms Martin continuing to push for the abolition of the €160 TV licence fee in favour of direct Exchequer funding. The idea is vehemently opposed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, as well as Ministers Chambers and Donohoe.
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On Wednesday, a report from the Oireachtas Media Committee backed Ms Martin’s idea. There was a significant split among its members over this decision, with the committee’s chair Niamh Smyth and other government members voting against abolishing the TV licence fee.
Asked about the committee’s report, Minister Chambers told the Irish Mirror that he "absolutely supports" the retention of a "contribution from the public" whether that is through a licence fee or another charge.
He also warned that ministers should prioritise what they want their budget to be spent on in a "tight fiscal environment" and that "we can't just concede a source of income in the context of the TV licence fee".
"Ministers will need to prioritise their wider spending asks," Minister Chambers said.
"Conceding a fee that the majority of people actually pay, I think, will undermine our wider economic message.
"We need to make sure ministers prioritise, that we're in a more normal budgetary environment and that we take a medium to long-term position so that we aren't spending in excess and we protect the economy for the future."
Asked if they were going to ignore the recommendation of the Media Committee, Minister Donohoe told the Irish Mirror that while they will take advice, it is up to the Government to decide.
He added: "Over 800,000 people paid the television licence last year.
"For every euro that is cancelled or for every part of a charge that is lessened or abolished, money has to be found somewhere else."
One Government source told the Irish Mirror that senior Ministers “cannot” change their position on the need to keep the TV licence or another similar charge.
As the Media Committee launched its report, Chairwoman Niamh Smyth said that there had been “divergent views” among TDs and Senators about the methods of funding the broadcaster. There were five votes in favour of abolition and three votes against, with five abstentions. However, Ciaran Cannon and Michael Ring of Fine Gael and Independent Mattie McGrath, who did not vote at the time, said today they would have voted to keep the fee.
