The European Broadcasting Union has announced the changes following an annual review of the song contest.

Canada’s membership comes after a revision to the EBU’s statutes, approved by its general assembly on Thursday.

The annual song competition first took place on May 24th, 1956.

Mr Bakhurst said RTÉ would not pull the Irish entry out of the song contest in May

It comes after the EBU said it would review the competition after some delegations ‘didn’t respect the spirit of the rules’ during the contest.

The competition was mired in controversies this year.