The Labour Party has warned that consumers will suffer if Sky manages to retain its effective monopoly of digital television in Ireland.
Reports at the weekend suggested that cable operators NTL and Chorus may not be able to provide digital services, leaving Sky as the sole provider in the market.
Labour spokesman Tommy Broughan said the inability of other broadcasters to create a digital platform has led to a situation where consumers are at the mercy of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sky corporation.
He said the telecommunications regulator and Communications Minister Dermot Ahern should provide incentives to encourage competition in this area.