The Government is due to publish the long-awaited Broadcasting Bill this morning.
The new legislation proposes the establishment of a Broadcasting Authority that would replace the current Broadcasting Commission and act as an independent regulator for RTÉ.
At present, the State broadcaster is regulated by its own RTÉ authority.
Elsewhere, the Broadcasting Bill also includes new restrictions on junk food advertising and measures to force broadcasters to air a clarification or apology to anyone found to have been wronged.