Seanad passes legislation on free-to-air sports

Legislation obliging sports organisers to ensure that important events are shown free of charge on terrestrial television has passed all stages in the Seanad.

The legislation gives effect to the European Union's Television Without Frontiers directive and is designed to stop major subscription broadcasters like Sky Sports from buying the exclusive rights to televise culturally important events.

The Government is hoping to have the law passed in time to ensure that Ireland's Euro 2004 qualifier against Albania in June is available on either RTE or TV3, despite the FAI's decision to sell the exclusive rights to Sky.