THERE ARE mixed views among Fianna Fáil TDs about the plans of Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan to designate key Irish international and provincial rugby matches as free-to-air for television.
A number of deputies have said that Mr Ryan should compromise on his proposal that the Six Nations as well as the crucial stages of European Rugby (Heineken) Cup be available for free to TV audiences.
However, other Fianna Fáil TDs have fully supported the Minister and criticised the tone of the campaign mounted by the Irish Rugby Football Union to protect the status quo.
Clare TD Timmy Dooley said the language used by the IRFU at its press conference this week was “intemperate and over-the-top”. Its claim that it would lose €12 million a year would have big implications if true, Mr Dooley added.
Saying consultation and compromise was needed, he said: “The Minister must balance his decision against the long-term interest of the game, and the ability to retain top-class players for Ireland and the provinces.”
Limerick West TD Niall Collins, a former player with Garryowen, was scathing of the rugby union’s campaign.
“I think there’s a strong argument to have free-to-air. The State has put a huge amount of money into the IRFU and soccer to provide them with a stadium.”
He said he was very worried about a future situation where the only outlet for many rugby supporters was the pub.
“Rugby is very big in Limerick where I come from. If you went to the pub to see the Munster-Leinster game last Saturday, the pub was full of families with young kids. There’s something very wrong about that.
“It’s not fair on publicans, it’s not fair on kids and it’s not fair on parents.”
He accepted that money was needed in an era of professionalism. “You mustn’t forget though that the IRFU is a cash-rich organisation. They have put up an iron curtain when it comes to scrutiny of their finances,” he claimed.
As part of the consultation process, Mr Ryan is meeting representatives of the satellite station Sky TV today to discuss his plans.
Yesterday, the chairman of the all-party Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sports and Tourism Tom Kitt said the IRFU will appear before the committee on June 2nd to make its case.
The Minister will also be invited to outline his decision.
The IRFU said yesterday it receives €16 million per annum in television revenue for both competitions. It said its revenue would fall to €5 million if the Minister pushed ahead with his plans.
On the issue of children watching rugby in pubs, a spokesman said: “The IRFU would be mindful of the fact that the image and usage of pubs has changed. They are now more food-oriented places. There’s the backdrop also of responsible drinking.
“The IRFU has cut a special deal with Sky to give every rugby club in Ireland a more favourable deal to watch matches,” he added.
The Cork-based TD Michael McGrath said the IRFU had built up a strong commercial model. “If the implications are as profound as Philip Browne claims, we need to leave the arrangement in place or phase it out slowly,” he said.
His Dublin North colleague Darragh O’Brien said there were grave concerns about the funding loss to the game. “The IRFU need to be able to continue to generate that funding.”
Dublin South Central TD Seán Ardagh queried the figure of €12 million which he said sounded too rounded and too neat.