The Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, has announced the new board of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.
Outgoing chairman, Mr Conor J Maguire SC has been re-appointed but there are five new appointments to the Board. Those new members are: Irish Times journalist, Mr John Waters, CEO of the 2003 Special Olympics Ms Mary Davis, Chairperson, of the National Disability Authority and Rehab Director Ms Angela Kerins, Ms Kay McGuinness, Director of the Southern Advertising Agency, Mr Tom Collins, Director of Dundalk Institute of Technology.
Those who remain on the Board also include: Senior Partner of Accenture Ms Vivienne Jupp, Mr John O' Brennan, Chairman of South Dublin Community Radio and National President of the Credit Union Managers Institute, journalist and barrister Ms Mary Kerrigan, and Mr Joe Griffin, Director of Ashfield College.
The BCI is has statutory responsibility for licensing local radio services, community radio and television, along with national services such as Today FM and TV3. The Commission is an independent statutory body and the Minister has no role in relation to licensing decisions.
The Commission is appointed usually for five years, but in this instance, the term of office of the new Commission shall expire on the establishment of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, a new authority to be established by statute and which will take over the role and functions of the BCI and certain regulatory functions from the RTE Authority.