Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

21. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on her Department’s engagement with national governing bodies with regard to ‘free-to-air’ sporting events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23911/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The designation of major sporting and cultural events for free to air broadcasting is a statutory process provided for under the Broadcasting Act, with the criteria for deciding events coming from the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive. This allows Member States to designate certain events as being of major importance to society and provide that those events continue to be available on a free-to-air television. It is an opportunity to protect for free to air viewing, a range of significant national events, or events involving national teams. The legislative provision in this regard provides for regular review of the list of designated events.

On 16th January last, I launched a public consultation to invite feedback on a number of potential new events, across Gaelic games, rugby and soccer, to be considered for free to air designation. Stakeholders such as broadcasters and sports bodies have also been consulted.

An independent consultant has been procured to analyse the results of the public consultation and any submissions received. This analysis will include an assessment of each of the proposed events against the criteria for designation which are set out in EU and domestic law, as well as determining the potential impact for sporting bodies. A key consideration in this is the balancing of the costs of designating an event to sporting organisations, against the benefits to society. This assessment process will also include further engagement with the sports bodies. Following this independent analysis and assessment, I will bring forward a final list of events which must be submitted to the European Commission for consideration before laying a draft order before both Houses of the Oireachtas.

It is important to note that this statutory process is not intended to designate an entire competition or all of one particular sport’s events. Rather, it is intended to ensure free to air coverage of major national events or events involving national teams. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that designation does not guarantee coverage. It is designed to protect certain events and ensure that, should they be broadcast, they are broadcast free to air.

Finally, a significant number of the proposed events are women’s sports. As a Government we should take every opportunity to achieve further equivalence and media exposure for women’s sporting events. As such, this review is an opportunity to take another big step forward in giving women’s sport the prominence and equity with men’s sport it deserves in our society.