Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if a cost benefit analysis, comparative study or public consultation has been or will be carried out regarding the proposed merger of the National Archives, National Library and the Irish Manuscripts Commission; the efficiency measures that are expected to be gained by the merger; the amount of money expected to be saved by this efficiency measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20690/10]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if new legislation is required regarding the proposed merger of the National Archives, National Library and the Irish Manuscripts Commission; when she expects to bring this legislation before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20857/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 174 together.

The rationale for the amalgamation of the National Archives with the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the National Library stems from the need to arrange the resources available to the national cultural institutions in the most cost effective structure possible. The continuing need to reduce public expenditure means that we cannot remain fixated with traditional or historic structures of publically funded organisations.

All three institutions deal with two-dimensional paper items of national cultural and or historical significance. In addition to the usual administrative services the two main institutions (the National Archives and National Library as the IMC has only one staff member) also share similar professional and technical activities such as conservation, collections management, digitisation, education and outreach and so on.

It makes clear good sense to bring together the three institutions that have so much in common in order that their resources can be utilised to the best extent possible.

Any rationalization, realignment and merger of the 'non-core', or 'back-office' and shared functions that can take place within complimentary national cultural institutions should diminish requirements for additional staff into the future, with consequent savings for the Exchequer. The amalgamations proposal arises from a desire to provide the best management structure for these institutions and is not primarily financially driven.

In the case of the merger of the National Archives and the Irish Manuscripts Commission with the National Library of Ireland, legislation is required. This will take the form of substantial amendments to the National Archives Act, 1986 and the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, and the Heritage Fund Act, 2000. The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Irish Manuscripts Commission, and its position as a Company Limited by Guarantee will be extinguished while the functions of the Commission will be transferred into the new body, mutatis mutandis. It is intended to bring the legislation before the House some time in the coming 12 months. ^^ Broadcasting Services ^^

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport her views on the free to air proposals to allow the televising of the Heineken Cup matches and the RBS Six nations championships; the discussions she has had with the Department of Communications on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20701/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she has conducted any studies, discussion or analysis on the effects on sport and the funding of sport in the State of the proposal (details supplied) to add Heineken Cup rugby, the Cheltenham Festival and certain All-Ireland GAA matches to the list of events that are of major national importance and therefore free-to-air; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20685/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she has met with any rugby organisations, clubs or groups to discuss the potential effects of making the Heineken Cup free-to-air; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20686/10]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 57 and 59 together.

I recently met with representatives of the Irish Rugby Football Union who briefed me on the organisation's opposition to the proposals by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to make a number of additions to the current list of designated events of major importance to society, thus making them free-to-air for Irish television viewers. The IRFU considers that any form of change to the existing designated list would have a very significant impact on revenues to the organisation which would hugely impact on its grass roots programmes and would lead to an exodus of professional players to other jurisdictions. The IRFU advised me that the proposals would undermine the economic model on which the funding of Irish rugby is based.

I have also met with representatives of the GAA to discuss the proposals as they relate to Gaelic Games while the proposals do not have the same impact on the GAA as they do on rugby.

Under legislation, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is required to consult with me before bringing forward any changes to the designated list. I have already had informal discussions with the Minister about his proposals. He has now written to me seeking my views and I intend to fully engage with the Minister on this issue while consulting further with the relevant national governing bodies.

I believe that there is a need to maintain a balance between the rights of the public to have free to air access to sports events and the rights of sporting bodies to fund and thereby sustain and develop their sport.