Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has urged members of the public to continue to pay their licence fees for “high-quality public broadcasting” and because householders with a television are obliged to do so.
His call comes amid a 37 per cent drop in payment levels in early August compared with the same week last year, when there were 15,432 renewals.
While the Government is considering avenues for a sustainable model of funding RTÉ and other media, the licence fee is the system currently in place, Mr McGrath noted.
RTÉ's board has expressed concern at the drop in licence fee revenue that has occurred since controversial finances practices at the broadcaster emerged.
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It is a criminal offence to have a television (even a broken one) without a TV licence, which costs €160 per year. The licence is also required if a person has other TV-related equipment such as aerials, satellite dishes or cables.
Watching television – including RTÉ player – on a computer, phone or other device does not require a licence.
A person who has not paid their licence fee may receive a notice from An Post, the licensing authority, warning a prosecution could follow.
A spokesman for An Post said a range of options for the purchase or renewal of TV licences is available, including at post offices and online.
Opportunities are given to householders whose licences have lapsed, with inspection and prosecution a “last resort”, he said.
The 2009 Broadcasting Act permits an authorised inspector carrying a certificate of appointment to enter a person’s home “at any reasonable time” to check for a television and licence.
Reminders, fixed payment notices and court summons could follow if residents cannot show they have paid the fee.
The offence of non-payment on conviction carries a fine of up to €1,000 for a first such offence and up to €2,000 second time around. The fines are accompanied by a record of conviction.
One prosecuting solicitor told The Irish Times the process is “very much a carrot-and-stick approach”.
The lawyer is sometimes approached by people in court accused of not paying the licence and the lawyer would direct them to speak with an An Post’s inspector, who is always in court for the prosecutions.
The inspector might suggest withdrawing the case in the event a person goes off to purchase their licence there and then, although this is certainly not guaranteed, the solicitor said.
“From a prosecution point of view, the aim is to get the licence taken out rather than to punish somebody.”
Someone who has not paid the fee for some time after being caught by the inspector will be in arrears and is more likely to receive a fine and conviction, the lawyer added.
Last month a Dublin District Court judge dealing with people prosecuted over non-payment of the licence fee said they may feel “a little hard done by” when they see the public money is “squandered and abused” by RTÉ.
Judge Anthony Halpin made the remarks as he dealt with a list of 159 people who had been issues with summonses who appeared before him at a sitting of the TV licence court.
Certain cohorts of people qualify for free TV licences, including those over 70 and some under 70, as part of the household benefits package. However, eligible people must apply for the package to receive the licence.
Seven per cent of licence fee revenue goes to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to support the production of programmes on Irish culture and heritage and shows to improve adult literacy. Eighty-five per cent is directed to RTÉ to carry out its public-service broadcasting commitments.
