The Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act 1999 incorporated into Irish law the provisions of Article 3a of the Television Without Frontiers Directive. The Act provides that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources may designate certain events as events of major importance to society for which the right of a qualifying broadcaster to provide coverage on free television services should be provided in the public interest. The 1999 Act provides that the Minister must first consult with event organisers, broadcasters within the State and members of the public. The Act sets out the procedure which must be followed by the Minister in relation to the designation of events. Specifically, the Act requires that the Minister must consult with the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, event organisers and broadcasters. The Minister must also publish a proposed list of events, invite comments on the proposed list from members of the public and lay a draft of the order designating events before each House of the Oireachtas for approval.