Tension over TV licence fee hike

Proposals to increase the television licence fee in early 1986 were opposed by a number of government ministers who were highly critical of RTÉ management.

Finance minister Alan Dukes objected to a proposed £2 once-off increase on the basis that it was premature before “concrete action” had been taken by RTÉ to improve its financial performance.

Mr Dukes also claimed the licence fee increase would be “swallowed up by RTÉ’s ongoing excessive costs”.