David McSavage has called for the TV licence to be scrapped as public anger over the RTE salary scandal mounts.
The controversial comedian, a cousin of under-fire Ryan Tubridy, urged a radical overhaul of the State broadcaster. He said: "Why should the licence fee pay for fat salaries? We should have a subscription service instead."
It comes as an online poll showed 84 per cent would not pay the €160 fee amid calls for the fraud squad to probe secret payments. McSavage, real name David Andrews, was convicted and fined in 2016 for not having a TV licence. The star of The Savage Eye had previously told the judge he was against paying the levy over the way RTE spends taxpayers’ money.
The 56-year-old told the Mirror: "RTE needs to feel fear. I don’t pay the licence fee – there needs to be a revolution. RTE needs an electric bolt up their a**e to get things moving over there. I don’t think RTE appreciate the licence fee money because they don’t have to work for it."
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The Dubliner added: "There doesn’t see to be any consequence to failing at RTE. If I fail as a comedian I won’t get rehired or get more money. It’s like RTE is dead and on a life support system. F*** this licence fee, let’s do a subscription service if people want RTE... that’ll make [them] competitive."
Earlier this week Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan warned RTE faced "serious hits" to its income streams as the backlash about the scandal rumbles on. The broadcaster relies on the licence fee for 55 per cent (€200million) of its income with the rest generated via commercial revenues.
Mr O’Donovan said: "There’s going to be a serious hit to the licence fee. The Government are going to have to take up the tab and Joe and Mary Public are going to wind up paying for this..."
McSavage said he felt his cousin was thrown "under the bus" or "used as a scapegoat" but he admitted: "I don’t feel empathy.
"He’s had a very good run and I’m sure he will continue after this to have a very successful career. It’s not like he’s going to be homeless, you know, in a month or something. I think it will blow over."
Asked if Ryan Tubridy should make a public statement McSavage said he should consider donating the controversial €345k secret salary top-up to charity. He said: "It would be an awesome thing to do."
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