Richard Bruton: Not sustainable to be collecting money on basis of TV ownership

Richard Bruton: 'Who is consuming all their media through owning a TV? Then there's substantial numbers who don't pay and who avoid and then there's the substantial cost of collecting.' Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins 

Former communications minister Richard Bruton has said the Government was wrong to reject the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Media last year for a move away from the television licence fee to exchequer funding.

Mr Bruton said the Government had not favoured a move to direct funding from the exchequer, but he and a number of other politicians including Ciarán Cannon, Michael Carrigy and Jerry Buttimer had been working on a more sustainable system of funding for the State broadcaster which moved away from the licence fee.