Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Priority Questions. - Television Coverage of Sporting Events.

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

94 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the progress made to date in respect of the consultation process with sporting organisations on the draft list of events to be designated as events of major importance to be generally available on television; when he expects to use the powers available to him under the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act, 1999, to designate these events; the steps he is taking to ensure that all of the Republic of Ireland's home qualifying matches for the European Soccer Champion ships are generally available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17075/02]

Mr. D. Ahern:

I concluded the consultation process last week. Having regard to the criteria set out in the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act, 1999, and the submissions made, I brought a memorandum to Government on the issue.

Having regard to ongoing negotiations with the FAI and the meeting scheduled for tomorrow between the Government and representatives of the FAI, it was decided today to defer a final decision on that memorandum. This will allow negotiations between the Government and the FAI to proceed with a view to a swift resolution to this matter.

From the outset I have endeavoured to ensure that the home qualifying matches for the European Championships and the World Cup will continue to be available on free television services. Since the Government decision in late July to commence the listing process, I have met personally with the FAI, the IRFU and the GAA. My officials have held further meetings with these sports bodies and with the International Rugby Board and the Association of Irish Racecourses. I have received written comments from the public and via an on-line forum on the Department's website on the preliminary designated events list. I have sought the views of sports bodies and broadcasters on the preliminary list. I hosted a public meeting in Dublin and concluded the process by once again meeting with the FAI, the IRFU, the GAA and the Irish Sports Council. Let me reiterate that the Government and I are determined to ensure that key sporting events are available on free television services.

Mr. Gilmore:

Will the Minister confirm that the Irish people will not be able to see Ireland's home game against Switzerland on live television next Wednesday unless they have paid a subscription to Sky Sports? Will he accept that this is the case because of the Government's failure to designate sporting events since the legislation was enacted in 1999? Will he tell the House when the designation of the events will take place? Can the Minister confirm that the designation will require the approval of this House? When will he bring the required motion before the House? Can he confirm that the World Cup qualifying series will be included in the designation?

Mr. D. Ahern:

I think the Deputy is referring to the European Championships and not the World Cup.

Mr. Gilmore:

Yes.

Mr. D. Ahern:

The issue of designation came to the fore very soon after I became Minister and we moved very quickly to bring forward a preliminary list. As I said, we had very detailed discussions with the organisations and they have a particular on it. I brought forward a memorandum to Government today. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, will meet the FAI tomorrow with a view to discussing this and other issues. A decision will be made shortly thereafter in relation to the memorandum.

Whether the first home game on 16 October will be transmitted on free-to-air television is not within the remit of the Government but I assure the Deputy that over recent months we have made significant contact with all the interested parties with a view to ensuring that the first game would be televised on free-to-air television. Unfortunately, as of this moment those discussions, despite our exhortations, have not proved fruitful. We thought that perhaps as a gesture it would be free-to-air.

On the question of subsequent games, the next home game is in June of next year. I hope that the issue of designation is resolved long before that date. Once I have made a decision, I will get Government approval to bring forward an order to be tabled in the House, which is the next step. Subsequently, we must go to the EU Commission. A committee of the European Commission will decide on approval of the list proposed by this country. That has happened in the case of other countries which have already designated.

Mr. Gilmore:

I would like to get absolute clarification on this matter. Is the Minister stating that the indication he gave publicly that the first game – Ireland v. Switzerland – this day week would be broadcast possibly on Sky One is no longer the case and that the game will not be free-to-air? Assuming the designations are made – I understand from what the Minister said it is his intention to have the designations made in time for the subsequent games – will the Minister assure the House that subsequent games in the European Championships qualifying campaign are broadcast free-to-air?

Mr. D. Ahern:

I did not indicate that the first game would be on free-to-air television or on Sky One. There was a report in the newspapers on that but no indication was given to us in our discussions that would be the case. I understand Sky has confirmed that in recent times which is a great pity. Be that as it may, I have a job to do and I am going to proceed along the route we indicated in July. The reason I did not bring forward the memorandum earlier was that discussions were ongoing with the various groups involved to see if an amicable solution could be found because there is a balance to be struck in all this. I said publicly that I was reluctantly becoming involved in this process because the sporting organisations have a strong view that designation will, in effect, hamstring them in relation to rights which they believe they have.

On games after designation, it is our strong view that once we designate, these games will be caught and will be part of the designation. We will take whatever action is required to ensure those games are caught within the designation.