Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

248. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when is he due to consider which sporting events would be designated free-to-air under European legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21850/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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  requirement to add any  events of major importance to society.

The current review is ongoing.  It was launched in June 2014 with an initial consultation process with 44 submissions received from interested parties.  This was followed by a public consultation launched in May 2015 seeking submissions from interested parties on the current list and their views on the possible designation of additional events which are as follows:

- Ireland's Games in the Six Nations Rugby Football Championship on a live basis (currently designated on a deferred basis)

- The All Ireland Senior Ladies Football Final;

- The All Ireland Senior Camogie Final.

Consultants were engaged in October 2015 to conduct a full review of the current list, those events proposed for designation and the 493 submissions received from interested parties.  The final Report is being considered by my Department in consultation with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. When this process is completed the proposed list will be notified to the European Commission in accordance with the Audio Visual Media Services Directive.  The Commission will then have three months to consider the list and indicate whether it complies with EU criteria.  If approved by the Commission, I will then sign an Order setting out the events to be designated. In the meantime, the existing Order  remains in force. It is expected that the current review process will be completed later this year.