Media

Taoiseach: Replacing TV licence would be ‘dangerous for democracy’

Government accepts 49 of 50 recommendations from Future of Media Commission, the exception being the call to replace the TV licence with direct state funding

Professor Brian MacCraith; Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Tánaiste Leo Varadkar; and Taoiseach Micheál Martin outside Dublin Castle following the publication of the Future of Media Commission Report. Photograph: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said that replacing the TV licence with direct funding from the exchequer would risk the independence of public service broadcasters.

The government announced that it was accepting 49 of the 50 recommendations by the Future of Media Commission. The lone exception being a recommendation to replace the TV licence with funding directly from the state.

“It’s fundamental that there is a clear demarcation between funding and the independence of the media. ...