The head of RTÉ has warned that the TV licence fee system is utterly broken.
It is estimated Irish broadcasters are currently losing €65m a year as a result of people evading the fee.
RTÉ has told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that an increase in the licence fee would be unfair to those currently paying it.
Director-General Dee Forbes says it is instead calling for the fee to be reformed to capture households evading it.
"Evasion in 2020 reached a level of 15.2%, 'No TV' homes grew to 15.1%", she said.
The broadcaster was grilled on a number of issues - not least the quality of the RTÉ Player - by Deputy Catherine Murphy.
"I used it myself and I've given up on it on several occasions, because all you get is ads and then it drops out.
"Are you satisfied with the player?", Deputy Murphy asked.
Ms Forbes said she wants to iron out the issues with the player, but does not have the resources to compete with other on-demand products from UK broadcasters.
The committee heard that advertising revenue is facing a lot of challenges, but broadcaster has committed to diversifying revenues.
However the broadcaster warned it cannot continue to deliver its remit for the people of Ireland without adequate public funding.
While Independent TD Mattie McGrath told Newstalk on Wednesday the broadcaster needs to work from the top down.
"They have to look at their top earners there as well, what they're getting."
Put to him that if the State broadcaster paid less the top presenters would go elsewhere, he said: "Let them, let the market decide.
"I don't believe they would because a lot of broadcasters, and indeed a lot of companies, are struggling at this point in time".
Deputy McGrath also said he received a 'phenomenal' number of complaints about the broadcaster recently.
"The amount of complaints I got over the Christmas was phenomenal. I think people have grown weary of RTÉ."
Additional reporting: Jack Quann
