Comment: The Government needs to assuage popular anger over the controversial FAI/Sky television deal, but finding a solution won't be easy, writes Paul Cullen

You could almost hear the crisp, clear sound of a stable door being bolted as Dermot Ahern earnestly offered yesterday to draw up a list of "protected" sporting events which Ireland's television viewers could continue to enjoy for free.

As the radio waves crackled with the howls of anger from outraged soccer fans, Mr Ahern suddenly discovered that he could, by a few strokes of the pen, designate that a series of major sporting events be shown first on terrestrial television.

Pity, though, that it can't apply retrospectively to the deal that is the focus of such enormous popular rage - that between Sky television and the FAI for the Irish soccer team's home internationals over the next four years.

Interesting, too, that Mr Ahern envisages such a shortlist. He cited possible legal problems and EU anti-competition law as reasons why the list would have to be restricted to once-off events.

Yet Italy, Germany, Britain and Austria all operate lists of varying lengths. Australia (see panel above) protects a dozen sports, including entire tournaments.

Mr Ahern also tried to foist the blame on the sporting organisations by pointing out that the FAI, the IRFU and the GAA were vehemently opposed to any attempt to trammel their lust for television money. But what did he expect them to say? And whose interests is he acting on behalf of - the people or the sports officials?

In any case, what on earth has the Government been doing in the three years since the legislation was passed which allowed for such a list to be drawn up?

Mr Ahern, an avid Dundalk fan, is innocent in this regard, having taken up office only a month ago. But where was his predecessor, Síle de Valera, when something needed to be done?

Did she think that Rupert Murdoch would politely wait five years for the State to draw up its top 10 of Irish sporting events? Did she not notice that Ireland's rugby matches against England at Twickenham had already slithered over to Sky?

Where, for that matter, was her boss, Bertie Ahern, another big soccer fan? Yesterday the Taoiseach ruminated in public about the subject without saying very much. "I don't know the whole story of the negotiations or what went on," he told reporters.

A pity then that the Taoiseach didn't ask the right question of Rupert Murdoch when he opened a new printing plant for the billionaire's News International company in Co Meath last month. On his first full day back in power, Mr Ahern expressed his pleasure to be in Kells with "one of the world's foremost leaders in media".

According to Ahern's spokeswoman, there was no discussion of the FAI contract then, and the first the Taoiseach heard of it was on Friday afternoon.

As for the FAI, who could have thought it would try to top the Roy Keane fiasco? You can't really blame the association for trying to maximise its take on the international matches. The difference between what Sky was offering and what RTÉ would have bid was massive.

Yet there is no doubt that the Blazers of Merrion Street have bungled once again: in the way the news leaked out; in their failure to allow RTÉ or TV3 to make a final bid, and thereby put the pressure on the television stations; and in their insulting suggestion that fans could betake themselves to the pubs if they didn't want to pay up for Sky.

Understandably, Sky is keeping mum, waiting for the storm to blow over or the silly season to arrive early. The company says there is no possibility under its contract with the FAI of making the Ireland matches pay-per-view, but it won't comment when asked whether its subscription charges could rise once fans are hooked.

Astute politician that he is, Bertie Ahern knows this is a problem that needs fixing. Yet finding the solution that will keep international soccer matches as one of the last few mass events we can enjoy is not going to be easy.