Minister for Communications Alex White has said he will be holding consultations on the prospect of making the Six Nations rugby tournament free-to-air.
Minister White told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics that a list of free-to-air events was reviewed every three years.
"I think there is a case if you look at the Six Nations - the question I have to ask is does it have a distinct cultural significance or importance for Irish people? I think there is a strong case for it."
Mr White said no decision had been made yet and the legislation required him to consult with sporting bodies and broadcasters on the matter
. He said RTÉ, TG4, TV3 and UTV will all be part of the discussions.
Asked about the Irish Rugby Football Union's stance on the issue, he said he respected what the IRFU had to say and he looked forward to meeting them.
