The importance of public service broadcasting was stressed by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands when she introduced the Broadcasting Bill, paving the way for digital television.

Ms de Valera said it was vital that citizens be given some basic guarantees . "In the first place, we must ensure, as far as possible, that all have a guarantee of access to broadcasting services that have a distinctly Irish quality, that reflect Irish values and are relevant, regardless of their economic circumstances.

"Such services must be provided on a universal basis, or as near to that concept as is feasible. I see the best way of providing that guarantee is the maintenance of a strong public service ethos in broadcasting."

She said that most of the new services which would be made possible through the introduction of digital television would be provided on a commercial basis. Quality programming was already at a premium and the costs of producing and acquiring such material would continue to rise.

"Accordingly, my view is that there is now a stronger argument than ever for broadcasting services, operating to a strong public service remit, providing programme schedules of quality and catering for minority as well as mainstream tastes."

The Bill, said Ms de Valera, extended the Broadcasting Complaints Commission's powers to cover all providers of broadcast content. It also established Teilifis na Gaeilge as a statutory corporate body, with the members appointed by the Government.

The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland would draw up a scheme for the allocation of £500,000 in exchequer funding for capital expenditure on transmission infrastructure for local and community radio stations.

The Bill, she added, repealed the section of the Radio and Television Act 1988, which enabled the IRTC to impose a levy on the income of independent broadcasters. In this financial year, RTE will make £16 million available for independent television productions.

The Fine Gael spokesman on arts, heritage, Gaeltacht and the islands, Mr Enda Kenny, said the Bill was disappointing. "It is weak, it lacks imagination, it is contradictory in a number of areas and appears to have been cobbled together from a number of different sources.

"It is, therefore, incapable of dealing with the complex broadcasting agenda which has to be addressed, and also fails to deliver on dealing with changes that are driven by rapid technological development and the convergence of these technologies."

He added that the Bill failed to deal with the rapid convergence, already evident in many homes, of telephony, computing, television, other video and audio services and screen-delivered consumer services such as shopping and banking. Nor, said Mr Kenny, did it set out clearly enough the part to be played by the national broadcaster.

The Labour spokesman, Mr Brian O'Shea, said that in regulating a service being availed of by virtually all the people living in the State, the fundamental objective should be the provision of the best quality service at the best possible price.

"It is essential that the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Ireland does not result in the opening up of a division in society between the information-rich and the information-poor. Such a division would further deepen the exclusion of many citizens from the means of escaping the poverty trap."

He warned that the Bill should not be rushed through the House, despite the Minister's insistence that it had to be passed by the end of the year so that £16 million could be paid to independent television producers. He had legal advice saying that this was not the case, he added.

Mr Conor Lenihan (FF, Dublin South West) suggested that consideration be given to 2FM and Network 2 being sold off or floated and put into the commercial market.

"Both stations have very committed staff and have been a tremendous success. I believe they could weather very well in the private sector. The presence of these essentially entertainment stations within the RTE network clouds, colours, and to a certain extent distorts, the pursuit by RTE of its public service mandate.

"They are great stations and are probably great commercial successes, and their establishment and success is a great tribute to the management of RTE. However, perhaps their future might lie in the competitive world of the private sector. I think this might be helpful in terms of helping RTE to fully fulfil its public service mandate."