FIANNA Fail is to put forward proposals to protect sporting and cultural events from being bought by satellite television companies in a Private Member's Bill to be debated in the Dail today and tomorrow.
The Bill, to be presented by the party's spokeswoman on arts, culture and heritage, Ms Sile de Valera, is called the Heritage and Cultural Events (Televisual Access Protection) Bill. It will introduce broadcasting restrictions to ensure certain sporting and cultural events remain available to all.
Fianna Fail says the Bill adopts a similar position to those taken by Britain, France and Australia where a legal framework has been developed to restrict the monopoly of events by minority pay channels.
A Government spokesman said last night the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, had announced similar measures in his proposals for new broadcasting legislation.
It was unclear, however, what the Government's attitude to Ms de Valera's proposal will be given that Mr Higgins has admitted his legislation will not be introduced to the Dail in the life of this Government.
Under Fianna Fail's Bill, events that must be available free to the public will be designated by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht in Iris Ofigiuil. The events Fianna Fail envisages will include the All Ireland football and hurling matches, rugby and soccer internationals, the Grand National, the Derby and the Eurovision Song Contest.
The Bill includes penalties of up to two years in prison, a five year ban on television contracts and fines for those found guilty of offences under the Bill.
Yesterday, Ms de Valera said the Bill was a considered move to control the "untrammelled growth of pay per view television sport".
"We are asking the Government to support our Bill. Minister Higgins's Broadcasting Bill is still at the drafting board and only the heads have been published so far. The full text of his Bill is up to six months away, while ours is now ready."
She said Mr Higgins's proposal would protect events only in a limited way and that rather than deal with the issue in a wider broadcasting Bill, designation of sporting and cultural events should be done in a separate Bill for clarity.