The High Court has rejected a bid by the Green Party to secure a court order compelling RTE to provide live television coverage of its Ard Fheis next weekend.
The Greens had taken the action seeking live coverage comparable to that given by RTE to parties described as of at least equivalent politicial stature - the Labour Party, the Progressive Democrats and Sinn Fein.
The Greens have six TDs and two MEPs.
RTE had argued its decision was based on the fact that the Green Party did not meet the qualifying criteria applied by the station in determining whether to provide live coverage.
According to RTE's criteria for parties' Ard Fheis to be covered live, they had to have at least seven TDs or five per cent of the national first preference vote in the last General Election.
RTE had argued the court should respect the discretion given to it in regulating its schedule and that the court could only interfere if it were satisfied that the criteria or guidelines adopted were irrational.
Ms Justice Carroll said it was not for the courts to lay down the criteria (for the broadcasts).
The criteria adopted by RTE could not be said to be illogical. There was no suggestion that RTE had acted other than bona fide and the Greens were not entitled to the relief sought.
However, she said she thought that RTE could have rounded up the six Green TDs and two MEPs, and given the Green Party limited coverage as it did for the PDs in the previous Dail.
Following Ms Justice Carroll's dismissal of the application, lawyers for the Green Party said they were considering whether to bring an appeal to the Supreme Court.