Sinn Féin motion to abolish TV licence 'a bid to divert attention' from drop in support

Motion to replace the licence fee with exchequer funding is likely to be defeated

Media Minister Catherine Martin said the Government is considering all options for long-term funding of RTÉ. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Sinn Féin has been accused of bringing a populist “comical” motion to abolish the TV licence fee in a bid to “divert attention” from a drop in support in opinion polls.

The party’s motion proposes to replace the licence fee with exchequer funding and waive penalties for anyone who has been recently caught not paying the fee.