John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

As the House is aware, all broadcasting matters, including the broadcasting of major events, are governed by the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act 1999 and the associated Designation of Major Events Order 2003, which fall under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey. In this regard, I understand the Minister recently announced his intention to conduct a review of the list of events designated as of major importance to society, for which the right of the qualifying broadcaster to provide coverage on a free television service should be provided in the public interest.

In inviting submissions from interested parties and members of the public on the designated events and the possible designation of additional events, the Minister also announced his intention to consider the possible designation of the 2006 Ryder Cup in the course of the review. It would be inappropriate for me to offer comment on this issue until that review is completed. I appreciate there will undoubtedly be interest among golf fans and other members of the public in seeing the Ryder Cup matches live on terrestrial television. However, the television audience that is my priority from a tourist perspective, and the focus of our investment in securing the event, is the worldwide television audience of 1 billion in 150 countries to whom the Ryder Cup will be broadcast, thereby giving our tourism agencies an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the island of Ireland.

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