Naas Mayor wants to wipe slate clean on TV licence convictions
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MAYOR of Naas cllr Bill Clear has called for an urgent government review of TV licence prosecutions and convictions following evidence to the Oireachtas from the director general of the national broadcaster concerning households that watch television solely through broadband services.
RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst told an Oireachtas committee that broadband-only television viewing represents a “loophole” in the existing TV licence system, with an estimated 10% of television-owning households potentially falling outside the current regime.
Department official Adam Larragy also indicated that broadband-only devices may not require a TV licence.
However, An Post’s published guidance has stated that a monitor connected to services including Sky, Virgin, Eir TV or Vodafone can require a TV licence.
“The state needs to answer a very simple question: who actually needs a TV licence?” posed cllr Clear.
“We have RTÉ, the department and An Post apparently giving the public different interpretations, yet this isn’t simply an administrative matter. People have been brought before the courts, convicted and fined under this system.”
Between 2022 and 2024, there were 18,910 TV licence prosecutions and 8,881 convictions. Historically, people have also been imprisoned for failing to pay fines arising from TV licence convictions. Official figures show 1,093 such imprisonments between 2009 and 2013 alone, he stated.
“The minister needs to seriously consider pardons for these people as it can have a significant adverse effect on their lives. Considering that RTÉ has been embroiled in controversy and scandal, this should be looked at.
“If there is any possibility that people were prosecuted when the equipment they owned did not legally require a licence, those cases must be examined,” said cllr Clear.
“I am calling on the minister for justice and the minister for culture, communications and sport to establish an immediate review of previous convictions and pending prosecutions. Where somebody was convicted despite not being legally required to hold a licence, that conviction should be overturned and the government should examine what mechanism is available to clear their record.
“We also need to know whether people paid €160 for licences they were never legally required to purchase and, if so, whether they are entitled to refunds.”
Cllr Clear said the controversy demonstrates that the existing TV licence system has reached the end of the road.
“We cannot have a criminal enforcement system where ordinary citizens are expected to work out for themselves whether the television in their sitting room falls within the legislation.
“Before another person is prosecuted, the government should clearly establish who is liable, review questionable convictions and finally replace this outdated system.
“It is time to wipe the slate clean and start again.”
