The Government has introduced a Bill to preserve certain sporting and cultural events of major importance to Irish society for "free" television and not on a pay-per-view basis.

The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, brought forward the Major Events Television Coverage Bill and said the general public would have the opportunity to give their views on which events should be listed in the legislation to prevent their becoming pay-per-view occasions.

She said that given the role sports in particular played in Irish life, "I am concerned to ensure as far as is practicable that those who cannot afford to pay subscription or pay-per-view fees will not be excluded from participation in our major events".

What was required was a balance between the rights of event organisers to sell the broadcast rights to sports events and the rights of the general public to continue to see major events that had a special general resonance for the people of Ireland on free television with near-universal coverage.

The Bill, once enacted, would give the Minister the power to draw up a list of designated events. Fine Gael's arts and heritage spokesman, Mr Enda Kenny, called on the Minister to produce a list of such events.