OPINION: TV licence fee all part of The Greater Good, so suck it up and pay it Ireland!

I was struck by a Press Association article this week where Paschal Donohoe said he was “very confident” that TV licence sales will improve following the Government’s new funding plan for RTÉ.

The Public Expenditure Minister also predicted that compliance with TV licence rules will improve beyond previously seen levels.

We will wait and see on that one, but I’m not so sure. 

The Government has agreed a new financing programme which will guarantee levels of funding for RTÉ through a system of direct Exchequer top-ups to licence fee sales.

The new agreement means that – after expected income from licence fees is accounted for – the Government will directly provide the organisation with a projected €42 million euro next year. 

It's a TV licence fee by any other name, and it means you'll be paying for it one way or another whether you want to or not. 

The overall funding package, which is less than what the broadcaster asked for, followed Government consideration of RTÉ’s five-year reform strategy.

It follows a year of crisis management at the cash-strapped station over a series of governance and financial scandals which further fuelled a years-long trend in declining TV licence revenue. 

An Post, which is in charge of collecting the €160 annual fee for households with TVs, will also receive an additional €6m to improve its processes.

What does that mean?

Maybe more inspectors?

Speaking on Thursday last, Minister Donohoe said: “I am very confident that the levels of compliance with the television licence are going to improve.”

He is hopeful more than confident, I would say.

He said he saw “positive signs” in recent collection figures, which showed an increase in July 2024 when compared to the same month last year.

Yes, maybe because it was coming from such a low base.

Those improved figures are in comparison to a period when TV licence receipts were drastically impacted by the developing crisis at the broadcaster.

Minister Donohoe added: “I’m confident that as we continue to restore trust in RTÉ – which I’m confident will happen – and as we allocate more funding to An Post to deal with compliance and collection of the television licence, that it will not only recover to where it was in the past, but it will go to a higher level.”

How many more times could he have said he is “confident”? 

Asked why someone would pay their TV licence when they know the Exchequer will make up the shortfall, Minister Donohoe said: “Sure, the €160 a year then that we will have to make up for is still coming from their taxes – so that’s the reason why.

“I’ve always been struck by this debate here, the idea that if the Exchequer steps in to provide the additional funding, where does that money come from?

“It comes from the taxpayer, it comes from the taxes that we collect.” He added: “And then, above all, it’s a matter of law.”

So, it seems one way or another the Government is coming for that money. Removing the licence fee won’t change anything, you’ll stay pay for it!

The TV licence is like the Property Tax at this stage' you must pay it for the roads, public lighting and the playgrounds.

And you must pay the TV licence fee because we need a public service broadcaster. It’s all part of The Greater Good. Just suck it up and pay it, Ireland, that’s the Government’s message.

Sound, lads!