Minister warns RTÉ as licence fee goes up

The RTÉ Group of Unions yesterday gave a guarded welcome to the Government’s decision to increase the TV licence fee by 2. From January, the new licence fee will be E152.

Minister for the Marine, Communications and Natural Resources Dermot Ahern expressed concern at the lack of substantive progress under the change programme, particularly in relation to reducing staff numbers when he approved the fee increase yesterday.

The minister said it was his intention to inform RTÉ that, in the review of their licence fee application in 2004, he would be emphasising the planned reduction in staffing and arranging for an external review of the impact on all broadcasters of the licence fee paid to RTÉ.