Ireland

[IE] Review of designated free-to-air sporting events

IRIS 2015-6:1/22

Ronan Ó Fathaigh

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

On 1 May 2015, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources announced a public consultation on the possible designation of additional sports events on free-to-air television (for a previous consultation, see IRIS 2014-7/25). Section 162 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that the Minister may, by order, designate events of major importance to society, coverage of which can be provided by free-to-air broadcasters in the public interest. Under the Act, the Minister may also determine whether coverage should be available on a live, deferred or both live and deferred basis.

The Minister is seeking submissions on the current list of designated events and the possible designation of three additional events. The current list of designated live events includes: the Summer Olympics; the All-Ireland Senior Inter-County Football and Hurling Finals; Ireland’s home and away qualifying games in the European Football Championship and the FIFA World Cup Tournament; Ireland’s games in the European Football Championship Finals Tournament and the FIFA World Cup Tournament; the opening games, the semi-finals and final of the European Football Championship Finals and the FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament; Ireland’s games in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament; the Irish Grand National and Irish Derby; and the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.

The event currently available on a deferred basis is Ireland’s games in the Six Nations Rugby Football Championship. The additional events being considered for possible designation are: Ireland’s games in the Six Nations Rugby Football Championship (currently free-to-air on a deferred basis), the All Ireland Senior Ladies Football Final and the All Ireland Senior Camogie Final.

The closing date for receipt of submissions is 12 June 2015. To designate an event, the Minister must have regard to a number of criteria, in particular the extent to which the event has a special general resonance for the people of Ireland and the extent to which the event has a generally recognised distinct cultural importance for the people of Ireland.