Scrapping the TV licence for a smartphone levy is being proposed as a "fairer" way of paying for public service media.
RTÉ has seen a significant drop in the numbers paying their licence fee in recent months, following the payments scandal at the broadcaster.
Associate Professor of Politics at DCU, Eoin O'Malley says making smartphone users pay a small monthly charge would be "fairer" than households paying 160 euro each.
He also says the money raised should be spread out across several media companies:
He said: "A way of weaning RTÉ off and making it more efficient is by introducing competition for that funding so RTÉ is not automatically given 93% of the license fee.
"Instead, it has to compete for a certain amount. Maybe increase the 7% that is open to competition.
"Now, increase that to 20% and 30% and eventually RTE stands on its own."
