Mary Lou McDonald says Leo Varadkar like ‘a deer in headlights’ on TV licence ahead of Oireachtas grilling

Ms McDonald said the Government should end the merry-go-round of delay and dither ahead of an appearance before an Oireachtas committee of RTÉ executives this afternoon.

Ms McDonald accused highly-paid RTÉ bosses of arrogance - and said they were unaccountable for losing millions, while thousand of people were being summoned before the courts for non-payment of their €160 licence fee.

The Taoiseach replied: "Thanks very much Deputy - and Happy Valentine's Day."

He agreed there had been a "culture of arrogance" at the higher levels of RTÉ. But he said the licence remained a legal requirement and people had to obey the law.

Mr Varadkar dismissed Sinn Féin's proposed abolition of the TV licence and bestowal of an amnesty on non-payers.

If they brought in an amnesty, would they also produce a rebate to those who had dutifully paid? he asked.

The Taoiseach said there was "a party leader who could be Head of Government" after the next election who was suing RTÉ at the moment - meaning Ms McDonald - and it was a huge conflict of interest.

Ms McDonald said hundreds of thousands of households hadn't paid the licence fee. "Do you seriously propose to chase those taxpayers through the courts, to threaten them with a fine or even a custodial sentence?

"Surely we can all agree that the courts' time and resources are better spent on more serious matters."

She added: "By the way, not one of the top brass at RTÉ has been held to account for wasting taxpayers' money.

"So it is unthinkable that thousands of ordinary people would face the courts - while highly-paid executives get away scot-free, having wasted millions."

Mr Varadkar told Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns that even if he "would personally favour" an Exchequer funding model, it might be that it would be combined with some form of broadcasting charge on households.

Ms Cairns urged the Taoiseach said there should be a charge on social media companies to help fund public service journalism. It was not a matter purely of television.

Mr Varadkar said: "The proposal of applying it (a fee) to households could make sense," but there would have to be exemptions. He was not sure the social media proposal was a good idea.

The licence fee would continue to apply for the whole of the current year before a new structure would apply, the Taoiseach said.

He added: "There is a gross conflict of interest in someone who is suing RTÉ deciding how much RTÉ might get."