Irish government announce licence fee increase

The Irish government have given approval for an increased TV licence fee, to now be 150 euro.
Minister Dermot Ahern stated: “RTÉ will be able to seek annual increases up to the level of the Consumer Price Index. All future licence fee changes will be subject to the strict monitoring of performance against financial, management and programming targets.”
Commenting on the increase, Patrick J. Wright, Chairman of the RTÉ Authority, said: “While welcoming the increase of two euro I believe it represents only a partial recognition of change achieved by RTÉ and therefore a missed opportunity by Government to fully recognise the dramatic changes made at all levels in RTÉ – Authority, output, administrative and technical areas. The Executive will be discussing the issues pertaining to the increase with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and, in the interim, I would like to stress the organisation’s commitment to continue to work with the Department and all other stakeholders with a view to ensuring that the Irish public continues to enjoy the ‘free-to-air’ output that only a Public Service Broadcaster like RTÉ can provide.”
(GB)