The Tánaiste has said he's open to having Revenue collect the TV licence fee, with a reduction in the cost of it a realistic prospect.
Micheál Martin said he believes everyone should pay the fee.
As it stands, it costs €160 year for homes and businesses, and if you’re over-70 you get it for free under the Household Benefits package.
Speaking in Chicago on Thursday, the Tánaiste outlined how it would work if Revenue took over.
"When this was tabled originally, this idea of a universal [charge] to replace the licence fee, at that stage I think 70% of people were paying the licence fee," he said.
"So you're not actually bringing in a new charge; you're just making it mandatory for everybody because everybody should pay their fair share for public service broadcasting.
"Revenue would implement it and the yield would be higher.
"In the context of the yield being higher, because you'd have 100%, you could conceivably bring down the cost of it".
'Majority of people have paid'
The Tánaiste said while having Revenue collect the TV licence fee is his preference, there is political concern around the idea.
"People are worried about that politically and I understand that too, because people had problems with water charges," he said.
"But this is replacing something that's already there and that the bulk and majority of people have paid for," he added.
TV licence fee renewals have dropped since the Ryan Tubridy payments scandal last year.
It emerged RTÉ had been paying Tubridy significantly more than it had declared to the public or the Oireachtas.
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has previously said the Government will likely scrap the TV licence in its current form.
“We will provide an alternative funding mechanism,” he told TDs last month.
"I do not expect it to be a continuation of the licensing system and the exact details will have to be agreed with Government before I give you the final answer on that".
In November, the Government announced a €56 million bailout for the national broadcaster from public funds.
Additional reporting: Jack Quann
