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Micheál Martin: Proposal to replace TV licence with ‘digital levy’ needs ‘very serious consideration’

Tánaiste said there are ‘issues’ with proposals for a monthly €15 levy on broadband bills as a replacement for the TV licence fee

Tánaiste Micheál Martin: “The licence fee, I’d have to be stress this is, right now for the remainder of this year and perhaps even next year before we get new arrangements in place, key and essential.” Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Plans to introduce a levy of up to €15 on household internet and phone bills in place of the ailing TV licence fee warrant “very serious consideration” before being advanced, the Tánaiste has said.

Micheál Martin said that there were “issues” in the new proposal that to be discussed at government level, and said that the licence fee would be intact “for some time yet”.

His comments come as tensions are growing in government over ...