Digital television needs to be established as soon as possible to provide choice for consumers, Ms Etain Doyle, director of telecommunications regulation said yesterday.

Ms Doyle said a delay of six months might not kill off the project but it was essential to roll out the service quickly.

She said there were other ways to provide a similar range of services but digital television was undoubtedly the best way to provide universal coverage in the Republic.

She said she would make it a condition of the licensee of Digico, the company which will operate the transmission system, that the service must provide 98 per cent coverage. "The people of Kerry and other areas in the west should benefit from the digital age," she added.

She said she would not comment on the current controversy between RTE and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht over the ownership of Digico but she said getting the service established was more important.

The Broadcasting Bill, which is currently going through the Oireachtas, provides for RTE to hold a 40 per cent share in Digico, the company which will control the transmission system for digital television. However, the Minister, Ms De Valera, has told the Dail "certain difficulties have arisen in the structuring of the transaction".

A spokesman for the Department said Ms De Valera met RTE officials last week to clear the air but proposals for Digico were stalled until the Broadcasting Bill goes to the committee stage.