Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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1651. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the strategy for providing broadcast coverage of less known sporting organisations and events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34454/14]

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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1652. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the strategy for providing broadcast for disability sports and events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34455/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1651 and 1652 together.

The objects of the national public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4, are set out in the Broadcasting Act 2009. In pursuit of those objects, RTÉ and TG4 are statutorily charged with the provision of a comprehensive range of programmes in the Irish and English languages, including programmes that provide coverage of sporting, religious and cultural activities and which cater for the expectations of the community generally as well as those with special or minority interests. RTÉ and TG4 are required to publish a Public Service Statement, and a Statement of Annual Performance Commitments giving further particulars of how they propose to fulfil their objects. Determining the composition of their range of programmes is a matter for the two Broadcasters, with due regard to likely viewership and audience share.

At a European level, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive provides that Member States may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. At a national level, the Broadcasting Act 2009 sets out the statutory process for designating events as free-to-air in this jurisdiction.

Under the 2009 Act, I as Minister, am obliged to review the list of designated events every three years. The purpose of the review is to consider the appropriateness of the current list of designated events and to examine the potential requirements to add any additional events of major importance to society.

Following a period of Public Consultation, the current list of designated events is currently under review.