The national anthem was played by Radio Éireann at closedown from its inception in 1926. Cinemas and theatres did so from 1932[1] until 1972.[37] Peadar Kearney, who had received royalties from sheet music publishers, issued legal proceedings for royalties from those now performing the anthem.[5] He was joined by Michael Heeney, brother of Patrick Heeney, who had died in 1911.[5] In 1934, the Department of Finance acquired the copyright of the song for the sum of £1,200 (£980 to the copyright holders plus £220 expenses[38]).[5][39][40] Copyright law changed in the 1950s,[n 3] such that the government had to reacquire copyright in 1965, for £2,500.[5][43] Ruth Sherry states that it is unclear whether the official anthem is the music alone or the text also;[5] however, the official 1934 Estimate of the amount required ... for the acquisition by the state of copyright in the national anthem includes the line item, 'Payment to the holders of copyright in the words and music of the "Soldier's Song"' [emphasis added].[38] While the state held the copyright, most requests for publication were accepted, "although several of a purely commercial nature, such as its use in advertisements, were refused".[44] As per EU copyright law, the English lyrics' copyright expired on 1 January 2013, following the 70th anniversary of Kearney's death.[8][46][n 4] In 2016, three Fianna Fáil senators introduced a private member's bill intended to restore the state's copyright in the anthem.[n 5] The ending of copyright also encourage the Seanad to announce a public consultation on the anthem.[50]