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Bob Collins To Head New Broadcast Regulator Authority
Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has announced the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The BAI, formed under the Broadcasting Act 2009, will oversee the broadcasting industry in Ireland.
The new body will replace the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) and for the first time will regulate both commercial and public service broadcasting.
The Authority will comprise 9 members. 5 announced today (30 Sept) have been appointed by Government on the nomination of the Minister and a further 4 will be appointed following the nomination of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The 5 Government appointees to the Authority are:
- Bob Collins will assume the role of Chairperson
Currently Chairman of the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland, Chair of Connect-World and former DG of RTÉ
- Paula Downey
Partner at Downey Youell Associates
- Michelle McShortall
Lead Designer at Intuition, e-learning company in Dublin
- Dr. Maria Moloney
Solicitor and formerly Northern Ireland’s representative on the UK’s Independent Television Commission
- John Waters
Columnist with Irish Times newspaper
Announcing the new Authority, Minister Ryan said, “This new Authority will take on a great task in the regulation of a creative industry. Broadcasting works best where standards apply. The new Authority will seek and uphold the highest standards, enhancing trust among viewers and listeners. The airwaves are a public good and as such must be overseen with the public interest firmly to the fore.
I thank the Authority members for their willingness to serve and wish them well in the challenges ahead.
I look forward to the nominees of the Joint Oireachtas Committee and believe this innovation in appointments gives them right and real power in populating our state boards.”
The Minister expressed his thanks to the outgoing members of the boards of both the BCI and BCC for their work in the development of the broadcasting sector in Ireland.
In addition to the Authority, the BAI will also comprise two Separate and independent Committees – a Contract Awards Committee and a Compliance Committee. Nominees to these boards will be announced shortly.
