The President, Mrs McAleese, this afternoon signed into law the Broadcasting Bill, 2003, which will ensure that certain designated sporting events are free-to-air on terrestrial TV.
Confirmation of the signing of the bill was announced by the Minister for Communication, Mr Ahern, this afternoon, and represents the final successful stage in the Government's bid to ensure the Republic of Ireland's home and away European and World Cup qualifying games remain on terrestrial television.
A full list of the events covered is set to be published in the coming days.
Welcoming the signing of the bill, the Minister stated that major sports events will not now be out of reach of those wishing to view them.
"It will prevent the advent of a two-tier television system which would deprive the public of involvement in events that are part of our national identity," he said.
Football supporters' groups also welcomed the news.
The legislation amends the Broadcasting (Major Events Television Coverage) Act 1999, giving legal effect in Ireland to the Television Without Frontiers directive. This directive allows EU member states to designate certain sporting and cultural events to be of sufficient importance to be aired free on terrestrial television.
It also provides for an arbitration mechanism to determine the fair market value for TV sports rights where there has been a breakdown in negotiations in relation to a designated event.
The issue of free-to-air events came to the fore following the signing of a €7.5 million deal between the FAI and Sky Sports last July, which awarded the television company sole rights to Ireland's home games.
The deal sparked uproar amongst sports fans, leading to the Minister publishing a list of designated free-to-air events, and drafting the accompanying legislation for them, last October.
Today's signing will ensure that Ireland's next home qualifying game, against Albania on June 7th, will be aired on terrestrial television.