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PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT has proposed a plan for RTÉ and public broadcasting that suggests replacing the TV licence with a new corporation tax, targeting technology companies.
The party’s self labelled “radical plan” – ‘RTÉ for the People’ – proposes that the state should increase the broadcaster’s budget to €500 million through public funds secured with the introduction of a new corporate tax.
People Before Profit (PBP) say that the new tax would raise €1 billion, which would go towards funding not only RTÉ, but other forms of public media.
With the funds raised, PBP propose that €500 million of it goes towards RTÉ – for its new, increased, publicly funded budget – while the remaining €500 million would fund other public media in the state.
Speaking to reporters in Buswells Hotel earlier today PBP TD Paul Murphy said: “The license fee is just another regressive tax. €160 on every household, except a small number of households, regardless of the level of income of those households.
“People rightly see it as a regressive tax. And it should be scrapped,” he added.
The party say that the new corporation tax would charge companies in the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector. The rate on the tax would be 1%.
“We think we should be taxing these major corporations who dominates so much of our media landscape, and in order to fund proper public service broadcasting,” Murphy said.
The Dublin South-West TD’s plan, put together alongside senior lecturer in media studies at TU Dublin Harry Browne, says that the new tax “would be relatively simple to design as it’s based on a levy on the corporate tax that already exists”.
The party’s plan claims: “Taxing ICT companies to replace the licence fee and fund public service media is compatible with the recommendations of the Future of Media Commission.”
However, PBP propose that the increase in RTÉ’s budget would come with two conditions, the introduction of a pay cap for all employees and democratising the organisation by replacing of the current Board with “a Board representative of RTÉ workers and civil society”.
PBP’s plan says “the board should not be dominated by people with private industry backgrounds” and adds that the organisation should allow for workers and the public to have input on programming decisions.
Along with increasing the budget of RTÉ to €500 million, the plan also proposes putting an end to all advertising and sponsorships on RTÉ channels, caping all pay to end six-figure salaries in the organisation, and a ban on contractor deals.
Reacting to the plan in Mayo today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “I’m not sure the public would support that quite frankly.”
He added: “If we had an extra billion euros of taxpayers’ money, giving all of it to the media wouldn’t be my highest priority to be very honest.”
Varadkar also urged members of the public to continue to pay their licence fee and said any additional funding sought by RTÉ would have to be worked out later in the year and be subject to conditions.
Additional reporting from Press Association
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Mary Lou does her job as a public representative by asking the Tanaiste questions
Joan Burton refuses to do her job by answering said question
Mary Lou gets suspended for not tolerating this constant affront to our parliament any more
FG/Labour, a democratic revoluition ™
Exactly. Unlike Moanie Joanie, Mary Lou answers all questions put to her and all questions put to Gerry too.
I think Joanie answered the question saying she did not know (no surprise) and Mary aloo didnt like the answer.
Mary Lou does her job by not allowing anyone else do theirs………………..yeah well done, Wind bag
Who’s that looper coming out of the surf in Portmarnock today? ….Brave Bucko, must be test driving his flu jab. :)
Who here thinks Noonan has actually has done a good enough job so far…….not good or amazing or anything like that,but just that he is solid considering what was handed to him to solve.Just people thoughts of him,coz for yrs and yrs and yrs the finance minister was always the lad that got the stick but to be honest I think nearly no one has said stuff about him since he came to office
can anyone find out how it took 110 gardai to arrest the young man in Sligo who had a shot gun who was sentenced today for 7 years. I though they were short of resources
Noon an the man who sent hepatitis sufferers to the grave defending the public purse and his investments and pensions yes you are right he deserves a knighthood in the new years honours list.
Prince, I was astonished at the report myself. A lone looper with a shot gun inside a premises needs 110 gardai, armed units, canine units and god knows what else?
Sheik, people just can’t be pleased. They took him alive, didn’t they. Would you rather they just sent a few snipers and take him out. Remember Abeylara. The furore went on for years and the public enquiry cost 20 million. And anyway what has that got to do with Michael Noonan.
James, you should establish first what the Sheik was commenting upon. It was in response to my observation on the number of gardai it took (110) to apprehend that man in Sligo. If you think it is acceptable , perhaps you should join the current government party or Fianna Fáil. You can help them to bring our country even further to its knees……… Not that they need any help!!!
I understood that Prince so I’ll address my comment to you and still maintain that it’s valid. On the subject of wasting money and resources on gardai and security forces, what was spent in Sligo would be a very small drop in the ocean in comparison with the countless millions spent on security over the thirty or so years of the troubles or “war” or whatever you want to call it, involving, as it did, many of Mary Lou’s colleagues.
the CC rightfully and democratically told the riff raff to get out. mary loud tantrum just shows how pathetic she really is, meanwhile the SF/IRA child rapists prey on our children under the protection of SF. utterly reprehensible. have you even one ounce of decency mary lou?
I remember when IPhone Joan was on the opposition benches and saying alot of the same things that the shinners are saying today… what a turncoat… Labour Water Rat………
George Orwell was right. Any sniff of power and you’re corrupted.
It is called politics Tim… get used to it.
Could the shinners break the mould? Time may or may not tell.
No
You seem pretty sure. You may be right, but we won’t know till we try it. Can’t be much worse than what’s gone before. Vested interests, the powerful and the greedy, may not be best pleased, but feck them for a change?
It can be much, much worse than what’s gone before. We have things pretty sweet in Ireland relative to most places, and personally I have my doubts a party of militant Marxists are going to turn us into all the good bits of Scandinavia if elected.
Mary Lou is anti-democratic. She prevented our elected representatives (and regardless of what you think of them that is, for the moment, what they are) from doing their business. She was clearly instructed by Gerry (in whose headlights she appears to be caught) to stage some stunt to distract from the fact that he is known to have facilitated the ‘resettlement’ of sex abusers … at the very least. Joan Burton blathered. But she’s not in the blathering class of Adams, the master of evasiveness, half truths, whole untruths, twisting, spinning, flying first class, buying holiday homes, pocketing €1m in expenses at Westminster, protecting and even employing his brother…. but tonight, Mary Lou is the centre of attention. Tomorrow, Gerry will still be guilty…
Are you still being paid by Denis O’Brien’s Sunday World newspaper, Paddy?
Off you go again… do you think everyone employed by Denis O’Brien should just give up work? And who (God help them) if anyone employs you? Or is that hidden behind your cowardly pseudonym too?
You’ve gone very quiet Were (you don’t mind if I call you Were?)
Sorry bout the delay Paddy, just putting the kids to bed….
It’s just when I read this from you……
“Tomorrow, Gerry will still be guilty…”
It reminded me of your newspaper penchant for libel and defamation.
Never sued. So. Are you telling us who your wonderful employer is. (My child in bed a while)
Last week, I challenged two Shinners to come with me to the family of a man murdered by the IRA to explain to them why they thought it was right that he was tortured and shot dead. They fell silent. Stopped posting. Now I have Mr Jammin seems to be unable or unwilling to tell me for whom it is he works. I asked, because he seems to think I, and all the others employed by him, should stop working for Denis O’Brien. Why the silence? Is it a trend? Or an instruction?
It would be an instruction Paddy, but you’ll have another Sinn Fein Bot in to muddy your question and try to discredit you.
It surprises me not one bit that cowardice is admired by Shinners.
Who was the person who was tortured and shot
Tom Oliver…. amongst others.
What happened Tom oliver was wrong like most deaths during the troubles
Followed up Paddy with a victim of a loyalist thug and then maybe a dub/mon victim? Or would such a journalistic approach not meet your personal objectives?
the lid is only coming off the endless abuse the SF/IRA death out to the irish people. 8 more SF/IRA abusers identified, the SDLP have told SF they want nothing to do with sectarian child abusers
Just watching BBC and learning that some of the technology on the Philae is nearly 20yrs old. Imagine how much more power even this posting has in comparison – greater achievement than I first thought.
Incredulous when you think about it!
Hope Mary Loo has a nice warm sleeping bag, the heating hardly stays on all night.
She left the chamber at 4:30pm when the Dail session was due to end, genius.
Poor trolling, F-
must try harder
Hopefully – by the time An Dail resumes, this awful corrupt Government calls a General Election and that awful Ceann Comhairle rides into the sunset ?
We might even get some Democracy in the future as a result ?
Of course the heating stays on and the air conditioning as it does in many office blocks and the toilet flush automatically 24hrs and lights are seldom switched off either. I have first hand experience of many companies who don’t bother, especially banks.
Yeah James, you’re such a troll. And you misspelt “Lou”. The way you spelt it means toilet. Be careful next time.
James please keep up with the news Mary is well gone home. Are you another FG Labour troll, getting very common on here lately
Sorry about that Shinner and I pride myself on my grammar and spelling. I hardly ever make a mistake.
No worries Séamus, we all make mistakes (except for SF btw).
Shinner o bot, is Gerry really God ?? really really, is he ???
poor idiot you would nearly feel sorry for her she looked so pathetic like a child leaving the headmasters office. but riff raff will learn manners the easy way of the hard way, you choice mary lou. now please stop deflecting from the disgraceful abuse your organisation you and your organisation are covering up
Whats with rumours that they are preparing emergency legislation for next week in the dail. The purpose of which is to take money from peoples wages and social welfare
I have never seen such messing in the Irish media… no word on IW but lets go after the currently most popular party in the country and take it from there…
What’s Russell Brand at? ..he picked up his irish brogue….. lifted straight from The Quiet Man?
First it’s not Sheffield Wednesday it’s Sheffield United and he isn’t employed by them he’s just training there.
Also he was sacked by the club when he was convicted
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