Mr. Páraic Duffy:

Yes, it was in 2010. I have the document in front of me. At the time Eamonn Ryan was the Minister responsible for communications and there was a proposal to broadcast certain games free-to-air. We indicated that it was the policy of the GAA to have key championship games available to all television viewers. As I have stated in documents from both Mr. O'Neill and me, 16 of the 18 major games this year, from provincial finals upwards, will be broadcast free to air. There is a balance to be found to meet the needs of emigrants and we have achieved it by keeping 16 of the big 18 games free to air. What has changed since 2010? We know from our own transfers that hundreds of thousands of young people have left Ireland and the demand from abroad to see our games is now far greater than it was in 2010.

The Deputy also mentioned that all games would not be shown live on television. I come from Monaghan and very few games involving such counties are shown live. Our supporters are well used to watching highlights, listening to the radio or, more importantly, going to games. We do not have the right and do not expect all of our games to be shown live on television. No county has that right.