Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

The Order of Business is No. 1, Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act 1999, which incorporated into Irish law the provisions of Article 3a of the television without frontiers directive. Article 3a of the directive allows member states to designate certain events as events of major importance to society to ensure that a substantial proportion of the population is not deprived of the possibility of watching such events on free television services. It was laid before the House four weeks ago. In accordance with section 2 of the Act, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has designated the following events: the summer Olympics; the all-Ireland senior inter-county football and hurling finals; Ireland's home and away qualifying games in the European championships—