The RTE Authority is to seek an urgent meeting with the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, to discuss suggestions that she will prevent the station from participating in a digital television joint venture and consider selling off its transmission network.
Several members of the Authority were said last night to be "furious" to have learned of the proposals through the press.
A spokesman for RTE confirmed that the Authority would meet today, and was likely to demand an immediate explanation from Ms de Valera.
Private sector interests expressed delight at the idea, and several said they had always argued that RTE should not be allowed to compete both as a broadcaster and a transmission network.
Speaking from Los Angeles, where she is meeting film industry executives, Ms de Valera would neither confirm nor deny the reports.
"Difficulties have arisen with RTE's participation in [the proposed digital television joint venture,] Digico," she said.
"I will be making amendments to the Bill, and bringing these before the Cabinet shortly."
