Abolishing the TV Licence would leave RTÉ ‘beholden to the Government’, Ciara Kelly has warned.

The Cabinet is close to signing off on a deal on how the State broadcaster should be funded in the years ahead.

Although Media Minister Catherine Martin had pressed for the organisation to be entirely funded by the Exchequer, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rejected the idea.

Instead, a compromise was reached and the TV Licence will be retained but will be supplemeneted by contributions from the Exchequer.

'Not a protest'

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Ciara Kelly said she was “kind of glad” there will still be a TV Licence - although she conceded this view would not be a popular one. 

“I don’t really buy that the people not paying the TV Licence… is a protest,” she said. 

“At the time, I think people were appalled at what was coming out of RTÉ, the flip flops, the barter account, all of that kind of stuff, I think people were probably rightly irritated by all of that. 

“If people were really irritated by RTÉ and really wanted to do something punitive to them, I think they’d stop watching Fair City, I think they’d stop watching the Late Late Show, I think they’d stop listening to Morning Ireland. 

“At the end of the day, people are not doing that, so I don’t really buy that this is a protest.” 

'Arm's length'

Ciara said she much preferred the State broadcaster to have an “an arm's length form of funding” to restrict the influence the Government has over it. 

“I don’t like the idea of a national broadcaster that is beholden to Government for funding - I think that’s a really bad idea,” she said. 

“In general, we have to fund RTÉ in some way; I am someone who believes in public service broadcasting very strongly and I think this is a reasonable compromise, myself.” 

Better than the alternatives

Ciara said RTÉ has to be paid for somehow and, at the end of the day, the TV Licence is better than the alternatives.

“I know no one wants to pay it,” she said. 

“People don’t want to pay tax, they don’t want to pay for anything - I get that. 

“I don’t want to, particularly, pay for anything, I’m no different, but I think this is a valid way forward.” 

An RTÉ logo at its studios in Donnybrook, 19-7-23. Image: Andy Gibson / Alamy

Co-presenter Shane Coleman said he agreed and accused opposition parties of “playing politics” on the Licence Fee.

“They see it as potentially another [issue that angers people like] water charges; they’re going to be outraged and take to the street,” he said. 

“So, you have parties opposing it but Exchequer funding of public service broadcasting is a complete contradiction in terms. 

“It will not work, it cannot work, it shouldn’t work, it shouldn’t be how it is done. 

“The TV Licence is here to stay and I think that’s probably a good thing. 

“It’s going to have to be changed at some point in the future but that is a nettle that will not be grasped by this current Government.” 

The TV Licence currently costs €160 per household.

Main image: Ciara Kelly. Picture by: Newstalk