|Submission received as part of the 2009 process| |Submission received as part of the 2010 process|
Submission received - 2009
Department of Arts Sports and Tourism submission
Dublin Horse Show submission
FAI submission
GAA submission
Horse Racing Ireland
IRFU submission
RTÉ Submission
Setanta Sports submission
Sky submission
TG4 submission
TV3 submission
Miscellaneous submissions
The following submissions have been received via email:
I would ask you to consider the inclusion of the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for any matches that have Irish involvement.
- Greg Ashe
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The Heineken Cup should be put on the protected list of TV events.
Rugby fans shouldn’t have to watch Munster or Leinster in a pub. And children are excluded from watching also. It would be great if this could be rectified.
- Maurice Healy
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Heineken Cup [Where Irish teams are involved]
Magners League
- P Noel O Shea
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The Ireland Six Nations Rugby matches and the Quarter/Semi/Finals and Final of the Heineken Cup involving an Irish province should be LIVE free to air events.
Regards,
- Cllr. Liam Burke, Youghal Town Council.
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I wish to indicate that I would find it totally unacceptable for the Six Nations Games not be broadcast live on RTE television. The Six Nations matches should all be broadcast live, as is the situation now.
- Eimear Fizpatrick
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All of Ireland's games in the the six nations should be added to the live list on Irish TV and all Irish provinicial Rugby teams games in the Heineken European Cup from the quarter finals onwards should also be added to the live list
- Keith Finglas
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Please make all Ireland’s rugby games in the Six Nations and the Heineken Cup free to air on a live basis. Also please include Ireland’s cricket games - in the ICC World Cup at least.
- Caitríona Fisher
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Yes please for the Heineken Cup.
- Frances Daly
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I would like to submit my ideas for the list of events designated as of major importance to society under Section 9 of the 2003 Broadcasting Act.
From reading your website I am slightly confused as to why coverage of Ireland's games in the Six Nations Rugby Football Championship is now under the deferred section. This should be shown live on RTE as is the case now.
I would also request that all matches in the Heineken Cup be returned to RTE. With the success of Ireland in the Six Nations and the continuing success of Munster and Leinster in both the Heineken Cup and Magners League Irish Rugby is at its most popular and attracts huge viewing figures. It is only correct that everyone should be given a chance to see all Irish teams competing in the two major competitions in rugby. We are now recognised as one of the top rugby nations in the world.
So my requests are:
LIVE
Heineken Cup Rugby Football Championship – all pool matches through to the final
Six Nations Rugby Football Championship – all matches
I cannot stress how strongly I feel that the Six Nations Rugby continues to be shown live on a national broadcaster.
Kind regards,
- Kathryn Cheshire
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I would suggest moving Ireland's 6 Nations games from the "Deferred" coverage list to the "Live" list. Even though RTE currently have live coverage, there's no reason why this would automatically continue into the future.
I would also suggest having the knockout stages of the European Rugby Cup (Heineken Cup) listed. Given the success Irish provinces have had in reaching the knockout stages since the inception of the cup, it would be good if these were included.
Thank you for the opportunity to suggest events.
- P Feddis, Dublin.
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It is imperative that Irish International Rugby be shown on terrestrial TV. As a minority sport it has huge backing from the TV armchair supporter as the recent Six Nations has shown. Deferred showing of the Six Nations games are not acceptable. These games must be shown live.
There is also a very strong argument for the Heineken Cup games involving Irish sides to be screened live also. From Ulster in 99 to Munster v Leinster in 08, every piece of historic action should be shown live on terrestrial TV. It is not fair to the average supporter or licence payer that successful sports are whisked away from us as Sky corner any successful market for themselves.
Is the Magners league safe? As a fan I hope so but with the continued success of that competition, led by the Irish provinces, it may well go the way of the Heineken Cup. There is a recession on. We need cheering up. Give us back our rugby. Please.
Regards
- Ronan Molloy
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Here are my submissions for Designated sporting events on TV.
I agree with the current list but would add
1. Cheltenham Festival (Horse racing / bloodstock / gambling is worth millions to Irish economy)
2. British Open Golf (We have world class golf players, should be easy to transmit as BBC show it,its on free to air satelite as well)
3. World Championship Athletics
- Thomas Cronley
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I wish to add my support for the inclusion of the FAI cup final in the list of designated Sporting Events to be broadcast live on terrestrial channels.
Is mise
- Conal Devine
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I think the FAI Cup Final, Ireland's games at European Championships Finals or World Cup Finals, and Six Nations rugby games should be added to the list.
- Ken Buckmaster
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The Irish teams involvement in the ERC/Heineken cup is something that was once available to all and helped develop interest in rugby in theis country enormously. Unlike with football the Irish teams compete at the highest level on the international stage and have enhanced this countries profile via their sport. To restrict coverage of their journeys through the competition each year is undermining the growth of the sport and allowing a British Telecoms company to control the market and benefit financially from Irish teams successes. As the figures of Irish international rugby games on RTE showed this year there is a massive market for rugby on tv in this country and an opportunity for the Irish channels to generate revenue from advertising during these games including knock out stages. The existing list should be retained with all All Ireland games being included for football and hurling.
Regards,
- David Kavanagh
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I believe the following event should be on the Governments free-to-view Sports Events listing
- The FAI Cup Final
- Joe Doherty
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The FAI cup should definitely be added to that list of free to air sporting events. It’s the climax of our football calendar, which is of huge importance to our society. It’s a bit of a joke that it’s not on the original list in the first place. The Dublin Horse shoe is ahead of the FAI cup in your eyes?
- Mark Ruane.
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Re the designated events list - I feel that the FAI Cup Final should be on this list - at the moment this may not be the most popular fixture, but, as our League of Ireland soccer teams continue to do better in European competition, this is exactly the type of event that pay-per-view companies will want to bid for. This is a major event & a major part of our soccer heritage, & as such should be protected for free-to-air coverage.
Many thanks,
- Conrad Donlon
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May I suggest that the annual Football Association of Ireland Cup Final be designated as a sporting event of major importance to society.
Regards,
- Barry Kerr.
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I would like to submit a request to the FAI Cup Final be designated and added to the Live Basis list. This is the showpiece of Irish football, running almost 100 years and I am surprised it is not already on the list!
regards
- Paul Thomas
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I have seen your listing in the newspaper of the event that you plan to keep off pay TV. I do not agree with your logic, can I make the following points.
1. International events for every sport should be included. why should the 6 Nations be deferred.
2. The Aussie rules series should be included GAA is our National sport, also GAA tickets are not easily available from quarter final on all these match should be included
3. The Heineken cup and Magners league should be included at least the later stages if not all.
4. The Lions tours.
By having these item Pay to view to some UK or US company SKY or NTL you drive the ardent fans into the Pub, that is not a great policy
Regards
- Peadar Farrell
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I am writing to support the return of Heineken Cup screening rights to RTE. I see a number of advantages:
1. Superior programming with an Irish slant from G. Hook and co. which would not be available to the same degree on Sky.
2. Increased viewing figures and therefore increased revenue for RTE.
3. Availability to a wider section of the population – namely those who could not afford Sky channels.
4 Stemming from previous points it would strengthen the development of rugby game in Ireland.
Yours sincerely,
- Seamus Kilby
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Ceapaim go bhfuil sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh Cluichí Ceannais na Sraithe Peile agus Iomána, Cluichí Ceannais Peile agus Iomána na gClub agus Cluiche Ceannais Peile na mBan ar an liosta chomh maith.
Is mise le meas,
- Irial Mac Murchú
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We are a small but growing rugby club that is trying to promote this wonderful sport in the western suburbs of Galway city and along the coast road west. As in every sport, we try to instill in our young players, a desire to watch the sport’s top players in action on television so as to admire their talent and dedication and hopefully learn from their wonderful skills. Given the huge success of Irish rugby over the past few months, there is no shortage of Irish role models for our young players.
Unfortunately, we are precluded from encouraging them to watch tv coverage of the top club competitions without being accused of pressurizing their parents into subscribing to pay television.
As you know one can only watch the live tv coverage of both the Heineken Cup and the Magner’s League on pay television.
We appeal to you to add the Ireland’s Home Six nations matches as well as Magner’s League and the Heineken Cup to the new list under “Live”
Is muide le meas
- Neil Keaveney, President, Na Bairneachaí Rugby Club, Galway
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Is club beag rugbaí muid atá ag iarraidh an spórt iontach seo a chur chun cinn i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe - Cumann Rugbaí An Ghaeltacht.
Is breá linn a bheith ag moladh do na himreoirí óga atá faoi oiliúint againn (80 imreoir 8-13 bliain) gur cheart dóibh foghlaim ón sár scil atá ag laochra an spóirt seo ar fhoirne Chonnacht, Laighean, na Mumhan agus Uladh
Faraor, ní thig linn sin a dhéanamh faoi láthair gan a bheith ag iarraidh orthu tathaint ar a dtuismitheoirí teilifís ar shíntús a ghlacadh mar gur ar na hardáin sin (Sky agus Setanta) amháin atá beochraoladh ar an Chorn Heineken agus ar an tSraith Magners ar fáil.
Iarraimid ort na comórtais sin a chur ar do liosta nua “BEO” de mhórimeachtaí a cosaint orthu leo gur ar chainéil saor go haer.
Is muide le meas
- Peadar Ó Flatharta
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We propose that all GAA National League and Championship games, at all levels, be available free on television within Ireland.
Beir bua is beannacht,
- Cáit Ní Cheallaigh, Rúnaí, CLG Fine Ghallainn, Páirc Laighléis, Sórd Colmcille, Co. Bhaile Atha Cliath.
________________________________________
A chara,
Is cumann beo de CLG muid atá ag iarradh ár gcluichí dúchasacha a chur chun cinn i nGaeltacht Chonamara. Ba bhreá linn a bheith ábalta a mholadh dár n-imreoirí óga atá faoi oiliúint againn (100 imreoir idir 8-15 bliain) gur cheart dóibh foghlaim ón sár scil atá ag laochr peile agus iomána ata ag imirt ar fhoirne an chontae agsu na gcontaetha eile
Faraor, ní thig linn sin a dhéanamh faoi lathair ar eagla go gcuirfí inár leith go bhfuilimid a tathaint ar a dtuismitheoirí teilifís ar shintiúis a ghlacadh. Mar is eol duit, as ar Setanta atá beo chraoladh eisiach teilifíse ar chuid de chluichí na Sraithe Peile agus Iomána ar fáíl. Níl Setanta le fail ach amháin ar chórais Sky (saitilít) agus UPC (cábla).
Iarrimid ort cluichí uile na gcomórtas Sraithe sin a chur ar do lista nua "BEO" de mhór imeachtaí a bhfuil cosaint reachtúil acu ó thaobh craoladh teilifíse ar chainéil saor go aer. Is Cinnte go bhfuil an stadas sin tuilte acu.
Is muidne le meas
- Pádraic Ó Ráighne Máirtín Ó Meachair, Leas Chaothaoirleach & O.C.P. Rúnaí.
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A chara
Is club CLG muid atá ag iarraidh ár gcluichí dúchasacha a chur chun cinn I nGaeltacht na nDéise in Iarthar Phortláirge. Ba bhreá linn a bheith ábalta a mholadh do na himreoirí óga atá faoi oiliúint againn (80 imreoir 8-15 bliain) gur cheart dóibh foghlaim ón sár scil atá ag laochra peile agus iomána atá ag imirt ar fhoirne an chontae seo agus an gcontaetha eile.
Faraor, ní féidir linn san a dhéanamh faoi láthair ar eagla go gcuirfí inár leith go bhfuilimid ag iarraidh ar a dtuismitheoirí teilifís ar shíntús a thógaint amach.
Mar is eol duit, is ar Setanta atá beochraoladh eisiach teilifíse ar chuid de chluichí na Sraithe Peile agus Iomána ar fáil. Ni féidir Setanta a fháil sa cheantair seo ach amháin ar chórais ar tháille Sky. Dá bharr sin, mar shampla, ní raibh an mór chéilliúradh chomóradh 125 bliain CLG as Páirc an Chrócaigh ag tús na sraithe i mbliana le feiscint ag formhór sa cheanntair .
Iarraimid ort cluichí uile na gcomórtas Sraithe sin a chur ar do liosta nua "BEO" de mhórimeachtaí a bhfuil cosaint reachtúil acu ó thaobh craoladh teilifíse ar chainéil saor go haer. Is cinnte go bhfuil an stádas sin tuillte acu.
Le mór mheas,
- Tomás Mac Craith, Rúnaí CLG Na Rinne, An Rinn, Dungarbhán, Co. Phortláirge,
________________________________________
I refer to your letter of April 17 and thank the Department of the opportunity to make observations on this matter.
• The Irish Sports Council endorses the principle and practice behind the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Acts and (Designation of Major Events) Order 2003 which designates certain sports as of major importance to society.
• The Irish Sports Council would retain the list as it currently stands.
• Consideration could be given to designating the Irish Open Golf with a recommendation to discuss any decision with relevant parties.
• The Council is proud of its work in supporting greater public awareness of the Paralympic Games. While it is not likely that it will be covered live perhaps some mention of the Paralympics, as it is a sister event with the Olympics, would be appropriate.
Yours sincerely
- John Treacy, Chief Executive
________________________________________
A chara,
Camogie is one of our indigenous games. The All Ireland Camogie Finals take place in Croke Park on the Sunday after the GAA All Ireland Hurling Finals. The finals are the biggest female sporting event in this country attracting attendances in recent years of up to 34,000. The Camogie Association, Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael, is a mirror of the GAA. It is a voluntary, community based organisation which represents a huge part of Irish life, history and culture. There are over 100,00 young girls and women playing and involved in Camogie. Developing sporting role models for these young women is an essential part of encouraging females to stay involved in sport.
Given the large numbers of people involved directly as players, coaches and administrators and the thousands of people indirectly involved as supporters and fans of the game, in particular the related GAA audiences, the All Ireland Camogie Finals have a special resonance for Irish audiences.
It is imperative that the All Ireland Camogie Finals are available free to air in full on a live basis to acknowledge and recognise their importance in the Irish sporting and social calendar.
Mise le meas,
- Sinéad Ní Chonchúir, Ard Stiúrthóir, Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael
________________________________________
A chara,
Camogie is one of our indigenous games. The Camogie Association, Cumann Camógaíochta na nGael, is a mirror of the GAA. It is a voluntary, community based organisation which represents a huge part of Irish life, history and culture. There are over 100,00 young girls and women playing and involved in Camogie and developing sporting role models for these young women is an essential part of encouraging females to stay involved in sport.
The All Ireland Camogie Finals take place in Croke Park on the Sunday after the GAA All Ireland Hurling Finals. The finals are the biggest female sporting event in this country attracting attendances in recent years of up to 34,000. Given the large numbers of people involved directly as players, coaches and administrators and the thousands of people indirectly involved as supporters of the game, in particular the related GAA audiences, the All Ireland Camogie Finals have a special resonance for Irish audiences.
It is imperative that the All Ireland Camogie Finals are available free to air in full on a live basis to acknowledge and recognise their importance in the Irish sporting and social calendar.
- Louise O'Connor
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To whom it concerns,
I as chairperson of Galway Camogie Board and a member of Connacht Camogie Council feel it is imperative that our Camogie finals get live coverage. We are a sister organisation of the GAA and nowadays there are quite alot of their members involved in the Camogie association be it through coaching at club or county level. The game of camogie has increased hugely over the past few years and as chairperson of our board in Galway I feel it is imperative that the Camogie Finals get live coveerage.
Yours in Sport,
- Geraldine Mc Grath
________________________________________
Dear Sirs,
Review of Designated Sporting (and other) Events
UEFA welcomes this opportunity to comment on the list of events designated by Ireland as events of major importance to society. UEFA will first make some general remarks on the listed events regime as provided for by the Television Without Frontiers Directive and then provide its views on the Irish list in so far as it concerns UEFA. In this manner, UEFA hopes that its contribution will assist the public debate on the composition of the list of major events.
1. Listed Events Regime
Whilst UEFA is broadly sympathetic to the aims of the listed events legislation (i.e. that the majority of the public has access to sporting events of major public interest), we believe that this objective can be achieved by responsible decision making by sports bodies themselves. We do not see a need to regulate the situation.
UEFA has consistently and for many years exercised its own good judgment to ensure that the public is not deprived access to our flagship sporting events in particular the UEFA European Football Championship final tournament (the “EURO”). This approach is applied across the European Union regardless of whether or not a listed regime has been implemented in the country in question.
The designation of an event as being of major importance does have a major impact on the market for those rights. In essence, it distorts competition for the rights by excluding potential bidders for the rights from the tender thereby reducing the value of the rights. Of course, value is not the only consideration here but open competition ensures that all factors such as value, audience reach and innovation are taken into consideration in the assessment of an offer. In contrast, a listed events regime essentially limits the options available with the value of the rights being the most clear, though by no means the only, illustration of its impact.
It is sports bodies who suffer from any market distortion resulting from such legislative intervention. That includes those organisations, such as national associations, with a stake in the event and who rely on monetary redistribution from the international federation in order to finance their grass root activities. For example, each of UEFA’s 53 member national associations, including The Football Association of Ireland, shall be entitled to receive solidarity payments of EUR 7.7m by way of redistribution of the EURO 2008 revenues. This is a significant source of income for all UEFA’s members, in particular the smaller and medium-sized ones such as The Football Association of Ireland, as it allows them to invest in grassroots initiatives which they would not otherwise be able to finance. Consequently, government intervention which is designed (at least partly) to promote sport may actually have the unintended consequence of damaging the sport’s overall development.
Given these general considerations, UEFA’s view is that any national events list should be strictly limited to what is necessary to ensure that the public do not miss out on events of major importance.
2. Ireland’s List of Major Events
Against, this background, UEFA considers that Ireland’s list of major events does strike the right balance in so far as it concerns the EURO. The current list provides that Ireland’s games in the EURO as well as the opening game, the semi-finals and the final of the EURO should be listed events.
UEFA notes that in its previous decision approving Ireland’s list of major events, the European Commission stated: “Ireland’s games in the World Cup and in the European Championship have a generally recognised, distinct cultural importance as a catalyst of Irish cultural identity. These games act as a focal point for society at large, helping to create a sense of national identity and pride in being Irish”.
UEFA can understand the rationale behind this statement and we also recognise that certain “gala” matches in the EURO tournament will also be of interest to the Irish public regardless of the teams playing. Although UEFA believes that if left to its own discretion there would be no conflict between UEFA’s approach and the public interest, it does seem that the current designation of matches in the EURO is reasonable and proportionate.
With that said, UEFA would caution against the expansion of the list to other matches in the EURO which do not involve the national team. UEFA does not consider there to be any evidence to suggest that non “gala” matches or matches not involving the national team could be considered as being of “major importance” to Irish society. While some of these matches may be of interest to many football fans in Ireland, they could not be considered to fall within the category of events that are of special resonance to the Irish population as a whole as required by the Television Without Frontiers Directive. The expansion of the listed events to such matches would constitute, in UEFA’s view, a disproportionate distortion of competition and a restriction to the free movement of services within the European Union.
UEFA, therefore, considers that the current list represents a fair balance insofar as it concerns the EURO.
Concluding remarks
We hope that you find our submission to the public consultation to be helpful and if you have any further questions please let us know.
Yours sincerely,
- Gianni Infantino , Deputy General Secretary, U E F A
________________________________________
A chara,
Tagraím dod litir, 17 Aibreán 2009 chuig an gCeannasaí maidir leis an ábhar thuas. Go raibh maith agat as scríobh chugainn. Is mór le TG4 an deis a thuairim a chur in iúl ag an am cinniúnach seo i saol craolacháin agus spóirt na tíre agus an deis atá tugtha dúinn sceideal a mholadh de na mórimeachtaí is dóigh linn is ceart don Aire a liostáil de thoradh an athbhreithnithe.
Thank you for your letter, 17 April 2009, inviting observations and proposals from TG4 regarding the above. We value this opportunity to make comments and recommendations on this issue at a period of major change in both the broadcasting landscape and the sports rights market in Ireland and wider afield.
In the six years since this important legislation was enacted and put into effect in Ireland, TG4 has tracked the impact of subscription television coverage on public access to major events here. Two recent high-profile sporting events of major Irish interest illustrate our concerns and make our case succinctly: The Ryder Cup 2006, held in the K Club in County Kildare - with major State support and sponsorship from various forms of public monies - and Leinster’s very recent historic win in the 2009 European Rugby Cup Final.
As you know, neither of these events was available for live viewing in Ireland on free to air television.
Their unavailability on live free tv in Ireland demonstrates the crucial importance of the “Live” designation for all major events that have a social and cultural as well as a monetary value. In both of these instances, the event had a significance and resonance that was much wider than that of a professional sporting contest. Both events were of huge national importance as evidenced by the wide media coverage of both the lead-in and the event itself. This coverage spanned all categories -news/comment/features as well as the sports sections of both the print and broadcast media.
In such cases “Live” is the only important category in this designation process. The “Deferred” designation is rendered all but meaningless by other means of accessing moving image coverage of such major events. It is doubtful that any viewer watching the deferred coverage on free to air television last Saturday night was unaware of Leinster’s wonderful rugby win some hours earlier.
We are also conscious of the impact of restricted tv access (on pay or subscription services) on young players and children who seek to emulate their national sporting heroes and their skills. Consigning live coverage of major national events to pay tv leads to pressure on parents to subscribe to such services.
Accordingly, having considered the matter carefully, consulted with colleague broadcasters in indigenous languages in other Celtic nations and elsewhere and noting the large number of “Live” designated major events listed under similar legislation in many other EU member states, TG4 proposes that the Minister should retain all of the events specified in the current S.I under Section 9 of the 2003 Act and we are asking the that the Minister should extend that list to include additional events in a new S.I as specified on the enclosed page.
Should you require it, TG4 will be happy to provide further information to support its assessment of the major importance of each of events.
Is mise le meas
- Pádhraic Ó Ciardha, Leascheannasaí
TG4 Proposals for Designation of Major Events May 2009 Live basis
• The All-Ireland Senior Football & Hurling Finals.
• The Provincial Finals in the Senior Football and Hurling Championships
• The All-Ireland Quarter Finals and Semi-Finals in the Senior Football and Hurling Championships
• The All-Ireland Finals in the Senior Club Football and Hurling Championships
• The National League Senior Hurling and Football Finals, Divisions 1-4
• Ireland’s qualifying games in the European Football Championship & World Cup;
• Ireland’s opening games, the semi-finals and the final of the European Football Championship Finals and the FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament;
• Ireland’s games in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournaments
• Ireland’s games in the Rugby Six Nations Rugby Football championships
• The Summer Olympics.
• The All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championships
• The Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.
• The Provincial Finals in Schools’ Senior Rugby
• The Irish Grand National
• Irish Derby
• The European Cup Rugby Final when played in Ireland
• The Ryder Cup Golf competition when hosted in Ireland
________________________________________
I am replying in relation to your letter and media advertisement regarding the Boardcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Acts and (Designation of Major Events) Order 2003.
As the National Governing Body for equestrian sport in Ireland Horse Sport Ireland supports the retention of the Nations Cup of Ireland at Dublin Horse Show being retained on the list of designated events LIVE.
In addition we would propose that the Minister give consideration to adding the Irish World Cup Qualifier in Eventing which for the last two years has taken place at Tattersalls in County Meath. The competition qualifies riders for the World Cup Final of Eventing which takes place in September each year.
The International Governing Body the Federation Equestrian Internationale (FEI) has awarded this qualifier to Ireland for the last two years. The event has been extremely successful with eight Olympic medallists competing at the event in 2009. Ireland has a huge tradition as regards horses and to have an event such as this in Ireland on an annual basis is absolutely crucial. All the indications are that this event will continue to be awarded to Tattersalls in future years. In these circumstances we believe that Ireland's Eventing World Cup qualifier should be included on the list. We would be happy to meet with the Department to provide further information on any of the above.
Kind regards
- Damian McDonald CEO of Horse sport Ireland
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The Irish Greyhound Derby Final is the highpoint of the Greyhound Racing Year. Internationally, it is viewed as the most prestigious national final in the leading greyhound racing country in the world. It is the culmination of six rounds of racing whereby the best 144 greyhounds from across Ireland and Britain battle it out for total prize money in excess of €310,000 which positions this race as the richest in the World. The Greyhound Derby is 75 years old and the sport is stronger than ever. On the
23rd May 2009 over 141,000 viewers tuned in live to watch a broadcast of live racing from Shelbourne Park and highlights from Lifford and Newbridge. This was the highest viewing figure recorded for the sport in ten years on RTE.
Greyhound racing is one of Ireland’s most popular and successful sports. Alongside horse racing it is one in which Ireland truly excels at a world class level. Aside from attendances of over 1 million per year at the country’s 17 greyhound stadia, the sport is responsible for maintaining an estimated 11,000 full and part time jobs. ‘Derby Night’ is the one evening of the year when everyone with a passing interest in the sport is focused entirely on the bell, the traps springing open, the blistering pace of the six best racers in the country and the crowning of one as champion for the year. The sense of excitement at Shelbourne Park has been captured very effectively by our national broadcaster for many years and is a centrepiece of the sporting festival that is September in Ireland. While the race itself takes place in the heart of Dublin, interest in the race and the sport is spread through every county in Ireland and abroad. Greyhound racing has its roots in rural society and the continued broadcast of the sports biggest race to every corner of the country is vital to maintain a sense of national ownership of the race.
Only a very small proportion of the many hundreds of thousands involved in the sport through breeding, training, walking, as spectators, bettors or workers will ever make it to Shelbourne on the Saturday night in September. The appeal of the sport outside the stadium spreads further in that over €7 million is raised annually by charities, community and sporting organisations via Night at the Dogs fundraisers. There is a great sense of the sport being one of the ties that bind together rural communities. Derby night is the one opportunity of the year where that important place in old as well as modern Ireland should be able to be enjoyed and celebrated by all the citizens of the nation.
The importance of domestic as well as international events The European Union defines the listing of sporting events as being those that are of major importance for society within each member state. Across Europe this is determined by various member states to include events as diverse as opera, handball, Nordic skiing and many more. Each of them holds a very specific place within a particular community. Each displays an element of the culture and characteristics specific to individual nations. The long and proud history of greyhound racing within Ireland would fit well within this broader context, and it is with this in mind that the Irish Greyhound Board respectfully submits that the Irish Greyhound Derby be included on the list of designated major events arising out of the 2009 review. Submitted on behalf of the Irish Greyhound Board by
- Adrian Neilan, Chief Executive Officer.
Submission received - 2010
Submissions will be posted here at the end of the current consultation process.