The European Commission has said the Government should provide greater clarity over the financing of RTÉ as a public service broadcaster.
The Commission says there needs to be greater overall transparency.
It called for a monitoring body at national level to ensure that public funds are being spent where they are supposed to be.
RTÉ has welcomed the preliminary opinion, which follows a complaint lodged with the EC against Ireland in 1999 by TV3.
The station alleges that State aid measures granted to RTÉ and TG4 infringe EC Treaty rules.
