Proposals for new broadcasting legislation will be before the Cabinet next month, with legislation before the Dail in the autumn, according to the Minister responsible for broadcasting.
The legislation will be comprehensive and will include proposals for digital television.
The last time there was a comprehensive look at broadcasting was in 1960. The last minister, Mr Michael D. Higgins, published a Green Paper and proposed new legislation that collapsed, however, with the fall of the government.
He had proposed a new structure for Irish radio and television, which included a so-called "super authority" which would have responsibility for all broadcasting matters, including those powers currently held by the RTE Authority and the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC). Fianna Fail had opposed the plan.
It is believed Ms de Valera's proposals will include a broadcasting authority over the RTE Authority and the IRTC. It will, however, have few powers, unlike that proposed by Mr Higgins.
This means public service broadcasting will still have its own authority within the RTE Authority, with the new body probably dealing with transmission and similar issues. The IRTC will remain the body responsible for commercial and community broadcasting.
RTE has requested Ms de Valera to re-examine the legislation requiring it to allocate 20 per cent of its programme budget to independent productions.
It is believed RTE's request for a review of the 1993 Broadcasting Amendment Act is on the grounds that there have been major changes in the broadcasting environment since the Act was passed.
RTE argues that, while it must devote 20 per cent of its programme budget - between £12 million and £15 million - to independent productions, it is facing increased competition from TV3, as well as new digital services from Britain. It also claims TnaG and TV3 represent new opportunities for independent productions that did not exist in 1993.
Meanwhile, broadcasting interests have been putting pressure on the Minister to make decisions on the introduction of digital television. Some believe the delay will give British digital television a head-start over domestic channels in the Irish market.
RTE has proposed that it be allowed to establish a new company and with a commercial strategic partner develop a terrestrial digital transmission system that would then give viewers about 30 channels.