Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan to block ‘Netflix levy’ plan

Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan is to bring a memo to cabinet that would seek to block a plan to impose a ‘Netflix levy’ on streamers, saying the public are paying enough to watch entertainment.

Mr O’Donovan was critical of a plan to allow media regulator Comisiun na Mean to impose a content levy.

Under the plan, which had been backed by the previous minister Catherine Martin, the proceeds would be used to fund independent productions in Ireland.

“I’m bringing a memo to government and I await the outcome of discussions with my colleagues around the cabinet table, so I won’t be saying much,” Mr O’Donovan told RTÉ’s The Week In Politics programme.

“I think people that are paying for entertainment, whether it’s the RTE television licence or whether it’s the subscription to Netflix or Disney, quite frankly, are paying enough.

“I don’t see any reason to put a levy on them at the moment and charge them any more, to be quite honest about…