Fianna Fáil TDs play down spat with Fine Gael minister over new 'Netflix levy'
Culture minister Patrick O’Donovan at Fine Gael’s parliamentary party “Think In” in Mullingar . Picture: Andrew Downes/xposure
Fianna Fáil TDs have downplayed a dispute with culture minister Patrick O’Donovan after the Oireachtas media committee voted to recommend a new ‘Netflix levy’.
A row erupted on Wednesday afternoon at a private meeting of the Oireachtas media committee, after Fianna Fáil joined the Greens and Sinn Féin to back the recommendation for a new levy.
There were two amendments to a draft report to include proposals for the introduction of a content levy on streaming services such as Netflix, which goes against the Government's position on the issue.
Sources indicated there were five votes in favour of the amendment, three Fianna Fáil, one Sinn Féin, and one Green, compared to four against — all of whom were Fine Gael TDs and senators.
A source close to the minister indicated that Mr O’Donovan was “not happy” with the committee’s vote in favour of a content levy.
“He is shocked at the way the Government is being undermined,” the source said.
A Fine Gael source said the vote was “embarrassing” for the Government and described the Fianna Fáil TDs who backed the recommendation as “rogue”, and described it as:
Mr O’Donovan had previously moved to block the introduction of such a levy, saying the public were paying enough at present for their entertainment.
In April, Mr O’Donovan published new legislation to prevent the introduction of a content levy, unless ministerial sign-off was provided.
While Mr O’Donovan has been critical of the recommendation, there has been surprise within Fianna Fáil as to how the vote is being perceived.
“What’s the big deal… I don’t understand why he’s so offended,” one Fianna Fáil TD said.
The TD said such a recommendation from the Oireachtas committee does not require the minister to make any change.
Fianna Fáil TD and media committee member Malcolm Byrne defended the decision to back a recommendation to introduce such a levy.
“The committee re-stated its position, as it has always held, that we should introduce a levy which would support the development of Ireland’s film, television, animation and content creation sector. This was backed by every witness to our committee on the planned legislation,” said Mr Byrne.
“The Fianna Fáil members are strongly committed to supporting the independent production sector in Ireland.”
Cork North Central TD Pádraig O’Sullivan said it was “well known” the committee would take a view to recommend a content levy, saying it was the view of the “majority of members”.
