Hotel owners are up in arms over proposed increases to the TV licence fee for commercial premises with multiple televisions. The Irish government is considering maintaining the €160 licence fee, with adjustments, while also providing multi-annual funding to RTE. This move is facing backlash from the Irish Hotels Federation, who argue that hospitality businesses are already burdened with rising costs. Businesses currently pay a flat fee regardless of the number of televisions on their premises, but new proposals suggest tiered fees based on the number of screens.
Minister of State James Lawless is exploring ways to improve compliance and increase payments, with measures such as transferring responsibility to property owners and introducing access codes for licensed media. These changes aim to modernize the TV licence collection system and reduce costs for ordinary households.
This move has sparked controversy, with the IHF calling the proposed fee hikes “unacceptable” and warning of significant financial strain on businesses. As the government prepares to finalize these measures, the future of TV licensing in Ireland remains uncertain.
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