A former government minister claimed that a lot of women enjoyed watching snooker so they could look at the players' bottoms.

Mr Austin Deasy (FG, Waterford) said the "poor women of Ireland" had to be bored out of their minds watching football, cricket and snooker on television. "However, women tell me that quite a lot of them enjoy snooker and have a particular affinity for studying the backsides of some of the world's famous snooker players."

He was speaking during the Second Stage debate on the Major Events Television Coverage Bill, which concerns the broadcasting of cultural and sporting events of major importance in the State. It was introduced by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, who said certain events had to continue to be seen free on television, rather than on a pay-per-view basis.

Mr Deasy said the legislation was very important as "we are such a sports-minded race". He said women suffered as television "is dominated to a large degree by sports coverage, whether that is coverage of Irish sport, the British channels or the Sky channels".

Once the legislation is enacted the Minister will be empowered to draw up a list of sporting and cultural events which will continue to be available to all.

Mr Deasy suggested that if Sky television took an interest in broadcasting hurling it would be a way of promoting it internationally. "Australian rules football is now a finer spectacle [than Gaelic football]. If Sky finds if profitable to promote Australian rules football on a pay channel, it might only be a matter of time before the company expresses an interest in broadcasting hurling, which is a magnificent spectacle."