A new Bill which would ensure television viewers can continue to watch major sporting and cultural events free of charge was announced yesterday by the Government.
The All-Ireland football and hurling finals, the St Patrick's Day parades, and the Fleadh Ceoil are among the events being considered for protection.
A list of such events, including those at international level such as the World Cup and Olympic Games, is expected to be finalised before the end of the year.
Introducing the Major Events Television Coverage Bill, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, said there was an increase in the number of sporting events being purchased by pay-per-view channels, and it was important to protect those of significance to Ireland.
She said she hoped the Bill would be passed by the Oireachtas before the end of the year, after which time the list of protected events would be brought forward for approval.
Before the list is drawn up, she would consult with the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, the public, event organisers and sporting bodies.
When enacted, the Bill will give effect to the EU's Television Without Frontiers Directive. Similar legislation is being introduced by other member-states.
Fine Gael MEP Mr John Cushnahan criticised the Minister for not introducing the Bill sooner. He said it was "too little, too late", adding that sports fans were exposed to an "unnecessary risk" by her failure to forward the list of events to the European Commission at this time.
However, a spokesman for the Minister said Ireland was ahead of most EU member-states. The British government has drawn up a list of events, including the Derby, the Grand National and Wimbledon, which must remain outside pay-per-view TV, although it has yet to introduce legislation.
The Bill requires that listed events have "distinct cultural importance" and "a special general resonance for the people of Ireland".
For a television station to be afforded protection under the Bill, it must provide free coverage to at least 85 per cent of television viewers up to December 31st, 2001, and near-universal coverage thereafter.
The Minister's spokesman said all three domestic services, RTE, TV3 and TnaG, met the current target level of coverage.
