Streaming service levy would need ministerial sign-off under Cabinet-backed plan

Ministerial sign-off would be required for a levy on television streaming services such as Netflix under proposals approved by Cabinet on Tuesday.

Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan said at the weekend that people using such services are “paying enough”, and he does not see “any reason to put a levy on them at the moment and charge them any more”.

A levy of this type had been mooted by Ireland’s media and online content regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, which presented Mr O’Donovan with a feasibility study for an audiovisual content levy and fund earlier this year.

Such levies are in place in some other European countries.