A High Court judge is currently considering the application.
HIQA is asking the High Court to order RTE to hand over undercover footage from a Laois nursing home at the centre of a malpractice controversy.
Admissions to The Residence in Portlaoise, and Beneavin Manor in Dublin were halted during the summer last year after an investigation from the State broadcaster uncovered multiple incidents of neglect.
Restrictions on admissions were eased in November.
The healthcare watchdog wants the footage of that investigation to allow its inspector fulfill his statutory role and says it has no other way of obtaining the footage.
Barristers for RTE say the broadcaster was neither consenting nor objecting and is welcoming HIQA's decision to investigate the issues highlighted in the programme.
Judge Emily Egan is reserving judgement.
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