Ahern wants Sky service regulated in Ireland

Communication Minister Dermot Ahern has indicated that he wants to regulate satellite broadcasters during Ireland's presidency of the EU.

Ahern wants those who target Irish TV audiences to come under Irish jurisdiction despite being based outside the state.

"It is simply not on that satellite broadcasters who provide television services specifically for viewers in a particular member state are not subject to regulation in that member state," said Ahern.

"In the Irish context we need to be able to ensure that Irish broadcasting standards are applied to television channels intended for reception in Ireland only," he added.

The proposals are contained in a submission to the EU Commission on the Review of the Television without Frontiers Directive.

Previously this directive allowed the Government to sort out the Sky/FAI TV soccer deal which met with strong opposition from audiences.