PUBLIC SERVING BROADCASTING CHARGE WILL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC CONSULTATION - KENNY

Posted on July 18, 2013 2:09 PM   |   Permanent Link   

Sean Kenny, the Dublin Bay North Labour TD and member of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, has said that the Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte will shortly be commencing a public consultation on the proposed household based Public Service Broadcasting Charge.

"This consultation will be open for public consultation for a limited time, and will seek responses across a range of issues around the application and collection of the new charge. The results of this consultation will be used in finalising the details of how the charge is to be applied and collected. The new household based charge will be designed to address the scale of evasion as well as respond to technological advance, whereby increasing numbers are accessing broadcast content online."

"It is not the Minister's intention that the new PSB charge will be higher than the existing TV Licence Fee. It is also my understanding from Minister Rabbitte that current exemptions under the Television Licence will still apply. This means that people in receipt of the Household Benefits Package, including OAPs, will continue to receive an exemption when the broadcasting charge is introduced."

"The way Ireland funds its broadcasting service has to evolve over time, as technologies and the way people view television changes. Amending the TV licence fee and its collection system is a part of that change. I am confident that the Government will strike the right balance in changing how this is done."

"The consultation, together with the views received from interested parties in the broadcasting sector, will be used in finalising the details of how the charge will be applied and collected. Following this process, the Minister will finalise legislation for submission to Government for approval with the objective of implementing the charge on 1 January 2015."