The Taoiseach Mr Ahern today signalled his intent to take legal action, if necessary, to keep live coverage of Ireland's home international soccer matches on free-to-air TV.
Mr Ahern has issued his warning after a meeting yesterday with the FAI, who last week controversially signed a multi-million pound deal giving exclusive live rights for the games involved to Sky TV. TV3 secured the rights to a delayed broadcast as pasrt of the deal.
It has emerged that Mr Ahern bluntly told the FAI of the European and legal implications of the development during yetserday’s meeting at Dublin's Government Buildings.
The FAI are taking legal advice before reporting back before a Cabinet meeting next Wednesday, when the Government's decision on how to proceed is expected to be decided.
Today Mr Ahern, one of a number of government figures to express disappointment at the deal said: "Our position is that we believe the legal position is clearly on our side - and, if we have to, we will impose that position.
"I am not trying to take any money away from the FAI - the best of luck to them. They need money and have outlined to us their problems, which we acknowledge. The position for us is that we have a clear law in this country and a clear European Union directive. That means that the people of this country are entitled to watch major events free to air.
"If we are pushed to do that, we will impose it. The FAI will get their advice and Sky, I am sure, are not averse to taking a legal case. But I can see solutions to it.
"We are the sovereign government and there is legislation and an EU directive and it is quite clear.
"We cannot sit around and disenfranchise a large part of the population from seeing matches they are allowed to see."
The Government have come in for severe criticism from Labour in particular for not submitting a list of designated free-to-air sporting events to the EU Commissioner for Culture and Education.
Labour's Communications spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore said: "The Government has ducked and dived for a full week on this issue with conflicting signals from various Ministers every day. They now know that in Irish law and in EU law they have the power to ensure that Irish home internationals can be listed for terrestrial television viewing and should act immediately to do so, rather than engaging in unnecessary and protracted discussions with the FAI." Mr Gilmore was speaking in light of EU Commissioner Ms Viviane Redding's opinion that any legal action ensuing from Governemnt intervention would have to be taken against the Commission a European level.
Additional PA