Free access to televised sport more important now than ever

Rugby’s Six Nations matches aren’t on Ireland’s designated list of free-to-air, sports, neither is Uefa’s Nations League. But none of the four priority bills presented by sports minister Catherine Martin’s department dealt with a problem that is based solely on financial considerations

Supporters should not be prevented from watching their team play live by cynical sporting organisations. Credit INPHO/Billy Stickland

Gil Scott-Heron famously promised that the revolution would not be televised. Irish sports fans will be hoping that the prediction of the American poet will not be proved correct, now that the government has launched a public consultation on the designation of sporting events that must be broadcast on a free-to-air basis.

This government has a mixed record when it comes to sport. The first thing it did was to name Catherine Martin as Minister ...