Vol. 483 No. 5
49 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the action, if any, she has taken to protect viewing on RTE and proposed TV3 of major domestic sporting events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20620/97]
I intend to address this matter in the context of the transposition into Irish law of Article 3(A) of Directive 97/36/EC adopted in June 1997, which amended the Television without Frontiers Directive (89/552/EEC). The new article provides that member states may designate national and non-national events as events which are of major importance to society and that broadcasters who acquire broadcasting rights to such events cannot exercise these rights in such a way as to deprive a substantial proportion of the population of access to coverage of such events on "free-to-air" television.
I am considering urgently how best the provisions of the amended directive can be transposed into Irish law and the matter has been referred to the Attorney General for advice. I will be consulting with my colleague the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, and others such as RTE and the Independent Radio and Television Commission when the mechanics of the transposition measures are decided upon.
