Authority, Committees and Executive

The Authority has overall responsibility for the operation and functioning of the BAI which includes setting the strategic direction of the organisation. The Authority has nine members five of who were appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Background information on the Members ).

The agendas for, and minutes of, the meetings of the Authority are publicly available.

The Contract Awards Committee is responsible for the operation of licence application processes for broadcasting services and multiplex operations.

The Committee has eight members, four of whom are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Minister, while the remaining four are appointed by the Authority, comprising of two members of the Authority and two members of the BAI Executive.

The Compliance Committee is responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of compliance, the investigation of complaints and a number of reporting functions. The Committee has eight members; four of whom are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Minister, while the remaining four are appointed by the Authority, comprising of two members of the Authority and two members of the BAI Executive (background information on the Government appointed Members).

The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee is a standing committee of the Authority with four members of which three are nominated by the Authority and the fourth, is an independent member that is appointed through an external recruitment process. The main purpose of this committee is to oversee the BAI’s compliance with best practice in our financial and governance obligations. Its duties encompass systems of internal control, external and internal audit, risk  management and financial control. In its work the Committee is guided by the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and other good practice guidelines as outlined by the Comptroller and Auditor General.  The Committee has agreed Terms of Reference. The Committee briefs the Authority at least quarterly in respect of its various duties. The Authority’s discussions on the briefing are recorded in the minutes of the relevant Authority meeting. Nominated Authority Members Ms Vivien McKechnie (Chair) Mr Denis Wolinski Ms Grace Smith External Appointed Member Mr Dermot O’Riordan. 

The BAI operates a matrix structure whereby staff work flexibly across all areas of activity according to business needs which allows for the efficient and effective deployment of resources where, and when, needed. The work is guided by the Office of the Chief Executive (OCEO) and supported by a senior management team. The implementation of the Authority’s agreed annual workplan, and the allocation of resources to achieve the plan, both staff and financial, is the responsibility of the OCEO. The Chief Executive is accountable to the Authority for the efficient and effective management of the administration of the Authority, Contract Awards Committee and Compliance and for the due performance of his functions. The salary of the Chief Executive and any annual travel and subsistence expenses are printed in the BAI’s Annual Report every year. Diagrammatic representations of the structure of the BAI and of its Executive are available:

• the BAI structure;
• the Executive structure.