Ryan: Government must do more for free-to-air sport

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has criticised the Government for not going far enough to ensure sport is free to air here.

Minister for Communications Alex White is launching a new public consultation process on the issue today and has extended the list of events that would be covered should the proposals go ahead.

The extended list includes all Irish involvement in the Six Nations Rugby contest and the All Ireland Senior Ladies Football and Camogie finals.

The idea was initially raised by the former Minister and now leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan.

He is calling on the IRFU to support this latest attempt, saying: "I don't think anyone's going to freeze the Irish out of a contract because we have certain protections for a game.

"Other countries have that too, and it's part of European legislation. The Government is perfectly within its rights and I think the IRFU, rather than trying to undermine that, should be recognising there are very good social reasons to adopt such a strategy."