RTÉ has been advised to adopt an effective code of ethics to ensure its editorial integrity remains intact.
The recommendation was made in the Public Service Broadcasting Charter for RTÉ, which the Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, published today.
The charter outlines the obligations placed on RTÉ by national and EU legislation and sets out what RTÉ commits to in terms of provision of services and accountability. It was devised following an extensive consultative process with the public and private sectors.
As a national public service broadcaster, RTÉ is charged with reflecting the democratic, social and cultural values of Irish society and the need to preserve media pluralism.
The charter says that the code of ethics should contain provisions to ensure no conflict of interest exists in relation to the performance of its employees and contractors.
RTÉ has an obligation to provide value for money in return for the licensing fee. The licensing fee currently stands at €152.
Launching the document today, Mr Ahern said: "I believe this charter outlines to the public in broad terms what they can expect from RTÉ in return for the substantial payments they make annually to the national broadcaster. RTÉ in return, through its Statement of Commitments and annual report, can detail how that public funding is being spent."
The charter will be kept under review in order for it to reflect change in the nature of Irish society. A formal review will be carried out in five years time.
The RTÉ group of unions said a special meeting will be convened to discuss the document and its implications for public service broadcasting.
A statement from the unions said several amendments sought by the group were rejected by the Department of Communications.
These included setting out commitments regarding RTÉ's musical services, the RTÉ website and technical standards generally.
"In the light of the changes made to the draft charter in favour of independent producers, the group is disappointed that the contribution of RTÉ staff to the provision of creative broadcasting in Ireland was not recognised," the statement said.
Mr Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists said: "The NUJ are obviously pleased that the charter has been accepted. There is a sense in which much contained within the charter is a statement of the obvious while at the same time key elements are based on false assumptions about work already carried out by RTÉ."
SIPTU branch secretary Mr Jimmy Jordan said the his union welcomed the charter but believed it "represents a missed opportunity in many respects".