A Fianna Fáil senator says he will reintroduce a bill aimed at protecting the copyright of the national anthem.

The bill - which aims to give official recognition to the Irish and sign language versions of Amhrán na bhFiann, as well as protecting the anthem from use for advertising purposes - was originally introduced in 2014.

However, it lapsed as a result of the Dáil and Seanad being dissolved ahead of the 2016 general election.

Since then, a public consultation has been held on the anthem, which included a recommendation for the development of an Irish sign language version of the anthem.

Now, Senator Mark Daly says he'll reintroduce the bill - which would return copyright of the anthem's music and lyrics to the State - when the Seanad meets for their first 2019 sitting.

He said: "The national anthem belongs to all Irish people, it is a key symbol of our identity yet it lacks protection.

“I first introduced this Bill in 2014 due to the lapse in copyright. I was contacted by constituents, unhappy with the idea of the Anthem being used for advertising purposes."

He added: "[The bill] will protect our national anthem from being used in advertising and give official recognition to the Sign Language and Irish Language versions."