The government has published a list of major sports events it believes should be available on free to air television.
The free to air TV sports events include Ireland's home and away qualifying games in the European Football Championship and the FIFA World Cup, the All Ireland Senior Hurling and Football Finals and the Irish Derby and Grand National. Ireland's Home Rugby Six Nations matches are to be placed on the deferred broadcasting list.
Minister for Communications Dermot Ahern said that these events were of huge importance to Irish society and should be protected.
The publication of this list by the government comes following the recent public outcry over the Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) decision to sell television rights for home games to Sky TV. However, tonight the FAI said that the minister's action did not change the situation. A spokesman said that the FAI had a binding contract with Sky TV for the home qualifiers for the 2004 European Championships and the 2006 World Cup.
Minister Ahern said that he would hope that the sporting organisations would undertake to provide the games free to air to people. However, he said that the government would not have the legal powers to insist on the broadcasting of tomorrow's Ireland Switzerland game at Lansdowne Road.
An RTÉ News reports on 15 October 2002. The reporter is Teresa Mannion.
