Authority

There are nine members of the Authority who are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. On October 1st, Minister Eamon Ryan appointed five members to the Authority. The remaining four members to be appointed will be proposed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee, subject to the approval of the Minister. The five member of the Authority appointed to date are:
Mr, Bob Collins: Chairperson
Ms. Paula Downey
Ms. Michelle McShortall

Contract Awards Committee

The Contracts Awards Committee comprises eight members, four of whom are appointed by the Government, with the remaining four being appointed by the Authority, two of whom are Authority members, and two of whom are to be members of staff of the BAI. Further details with regard to appointments will be posted to this section of the site, as the information becomes available.

Compliance Committee

The Compliance Committee comprises eight members, four of whom are appointed by the Government, with the remaining four being appointed by the Authority, two of whom are Authority members, and two of whom are to be members of staff of the BAI. Further details with regard to appointments will be posted to this section of the site, as the information becomes available.

The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides for a significant expansion of the roles and responsibilities of the BCI, most notably aspects of the regulation of the Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs).

The Authority will consult with the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (the Minister) on a range of Public Service Broadcasting matters including assessing the extent to which a Public Service Broadcaster has fulfilled its commitments in respect of its public service objects stated in its annual statement of performance commitments and reviewing the adequacy, or otherwise, of public funding to meet its public service objects.

Sound & Vision, the Broadcasting Funding Scheme was established to provide funding in support of high quality programmes on Irish culture, heritage and experience, and programmes to improve adult literacy. The Scheme has been in operation since 2005.

The Broadcasting Act, 2009, has provided for a number of changes to the Scheme. In addition to providing funding support for the areas outlined, funding will now also be available for programmes to improve media literacy and programmes which raise awareness and understanding of global issues impacting on the State and other countries. The new legislation has increased the percentage level of funding for the Scheme via the television licence fee from 5% to 7%.

The Broadcasting Funding Scheme was also the subject of a statutory review which completed and submitted to the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources earlier in 2009. Revisions to the Scheme arising out of the review are subject to the approval of the European Commission. It is anticipated that a revised scheme will be launched by the end of this year. Announcements with regard to funding rounds in 2010 will be made at that time.