Despite the ongoing scandal surrounding RTÉ, viewers "should and must" continue to pay their licence fees.

Last week, when asked about the potential revenue losses the broadcaster may face, Media Minister Catherine Martin said she was “not going to advise anyone” to pay their television licence.

However, The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, was more specific about the future of licence fees, telling  Newstalk Breakfast that viewers "should and must pay your TV licence".

Minister Donohoe, was speaking to the show in the wake of Ryan Tubridy and Noel Kelly's appearance in front of the Oireachtas.

Yesterday, Mr Tubridy and Mr Kelly faced questioning for several hours on the RTÉ pay scandal and the underreporting of the Late Late Show presenter’s pay over a number of years.

Minister Donohoe said their appearance was an "inevitable" result of "the scale of public issues that have been raised."

"The taxpayers are really annoyed about what has happened," he said, "And as a member of Government, really serious issues have [arisen]."

'Get to the bottom'

Minister Donohoe said the Government's first port of call moving forward will be a forensic investigation.

"There will be a forensic accountant in place on behalf of the taxpayer and the Government to further investigate the serious issues that have developed," he said.

"That's why, in particular, I do welcome now, the new Director General of the RTÉ bringing forward the concept of a register of interests."

 RTE Radio Presenter Ryan Tubridy leaving at the Dail (Leinster House) with his agent Noel Kelly after giving evidence at the Public Accounts committee in the morning and the media Committee in the afternoon in relation to his pay issues. 11/07/2023 Photo: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Minister Donohoe raised the importance of a return to a sense of "proportionality and balance" after the near-constant coverage the scandal has seen over the past three weeks.

"It is inevitable, when matters like this emerge, that they're the subject of a lot of public focus on debate," he said.

"In doing all of this, I think it is important to have a sense of proportionality and balance about it too and due process has to be followed."

TV licences

Mr Donohoe continued to advocate for viewers to follow "the law" and pay their TV licence fees.

"I believe in the debate that has unfolded, there is a really important concept for guiding the value of public service broadcasting and the need to fund it," he said.

"We are in an era now of increased polarisation. We're even in an era in which the nature of truth and the existence of truth itself has been challenged by some, and I believe journalism has a role to play in achieving the right balance."

Ryan Tubridy

Minister Donohoe chose not to express a personal preference as to whether Mr Tubridy should return to broadcasting in RTÉ.

"I believe no minister should offer a view as to whether any broadcaster should be in the studio," he said.

"That has to be independent of political control or influence.

"We will have a lot to reflect on in the future regarding what this means for the future of broadcast in recent weeks. But one line we shouldn't cross is saying that a politician gets to determine who's on air."