MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS, Alex White T.D., today launched a public consultation concerning the possible designation of Ireland’s Six Nations matches as one of three additional “events of major importance to society”.
Such a designation ensures they remain available on a free-to-air basis for Irish television viewers.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 allows the Minister to designate certain sporting and cultural events of major importance to society in order to make them freely available on national television (e.g. TV3, TG4, RTE, UTV).
This list currently includes events such as the Summer Olympics, the All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals, the Irish soccer team’s home and away qualifiers at both a European and World Cup level and the Irish Grand National among other equestrian events.
However, the Minister today placed advertisements in the national press seeking submissions from interested parties on the current list and the possible designation of three additional events, most notably Ireland’s games in the Six nations.
The other events Minister White is hoping to bring under the free-to-air umbrella are the All-Ireland senior ladies football final and senior camogie final.
The Six Nations is likely to be the most contentious with the IRFU previously expressing concern that any move to designate Ireland’s matches as free-to-air would see the organisation miss out financially when the competing countries begin negotiations for a new TV deal in 2017.
Ireland’s matches are currently designated free-to-air on a deferred basis only.
Pity it’s nearly over. It was brilliant.
These games were fantastic. Helped me forget about the doom and gloom for a bit over the last two weeks. Loved the swimming,the track events& cycling Bolt and Co were amazing. And of course our own team did a great job. Hopefully it will inspire kids out there and bring pride back to this country.
I really enjoyed the games! Thought after the amazing opening ceremony everything that followed would be a let down but by god I was wrong! Absolutely loved watching the sports, some of which I had never seen before! London did good, it has to be said! And well done and congrats to all who flew the flag for Ireland! Ye all did us proud!(“,)
Great two weeks of entertainment and a chance to forget the doom and gloom. Just shows what a bit of success can do for our national sense of well being. We really needed the lift. Hope it’s not spoilt by petty wrangling over money and unnecessary interference by politicians. Best moments were of course Katie Taylor and the boxers and other great performances by Annalise Murphy, Cian O Connor, Rob Heffernan and Gavin Noble. A sport I had never seen before was the dressage and I found it fascinating. Horses can dance! Amazing!
Sweden playing France in the Handball not the Volleyball !
Two sports we do not Care about either way! Volleyball is only good if played on a beach by cute women ;)
What about the boxing officials sent hope and Russia saying boxing is fixed ???
And let’s not forget the thousands of Irish fans that made it over to London for the games, who otherwise might not have been able to go if it was halfway across the world, it probably is the closest we will ever have to a HOME GAMES so that has been fantastic, London should be proud of the games they have put on.