An online business news service will be officially introduced next week by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, as part of a joint-venture project between RTE News and RTE Commercial Enterprises.

The Onbusiness service, which can be accessed at www.onbusiness.ie, integrates textual, audio and Web television content.

It will also form part of RTE's digital content for the upcoming digital terrestrial television platform.

The Onbusiness site offers users a breaking business news service between 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. between Monday and Friday and real-time stock market quotes for British and Irish shares.

A series of interviews with 20 top business people in the Republic called Moneymakers, which have previously been broadcast on RTE radio, will also be available on DVD video and audio on the site.

The site will offer interviews with stock market analysts and highlight recommendations made by brokers on topical Irish stocks.

A core team of five staff will operate the Onbusiness service and costs will be kept down by using RTE's existing broadcasting, radio and online resources. It is believed the service cost less than £100,000 (#127,065) to establish.

Mr Shane Kenny, managing editor of the Onbusiness service, said that the Internet as a communications medium was absolutely in RTE's space.

The Onbusiness content would dovetail into its digital broadcasting plans, he added.

The Onbusiness site will create revenue by selling its content to other service providers, providing e-mail and generating advertising revenue.