Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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986. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Six Nations Championship will be designated as being of major importance to society that must be screened live on a free-to-air television service here in order to ensure that the majority of the population can continue to watch the championship in the future without needing a costly subscription to a private provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4488/20]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) 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.

Under the 2009 Act, the Minister is 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 whether to add any events of major importance to society.

The most recent review was finalised in 2017. Approval was received from the European Commission to designate the All Ireland Senior Ladies Football and Camogie Finals as events of major importance in May 2017. Ireland games in the Six Nations was designated on a deferred free to air viewing basis as the Irish Rugby Football Union secured a commercial agreement with Virgin Media to broadcast the tournament for the period 2018-2021.

In accordance with Section 173(2) of the Act, the next review is scheduled to commence later this year and all eligible events with a special general resonance to the people of Ireland will be considered for designation.

The current list is as set out below.

Live:

- The All Ireland Senior Ladies Football Final

- The All Ireland Senior Camogie Final

- The Summer Olympics

- The All-Ireland Senior Inter-County Football & Hurling Finals

- Ireland’s home and away qualifying games in the European Football Championship and the FIFA World Cup Tournaments

- Ireland’s games in the European Football Championship Finals Tournament and the FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament

- Ireland’s games in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament

- The Irish Grand National and the Irish Derby

- The Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show

Deferred:

- Ireland’s games in the Six Nations Rugby Football Championship