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Legal cloud hanging over broadcasting boards and their decisions - IBI chair

08.02.2010
The chairman of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI), Willie O’Reilly, has issued a statement expressing his surprise at the legal difficulties that have emerged in appointing members to the boards of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) and RTE.

“The Broadcasting Act 2009 is a largely excellent piece of legislation that among other thing aims to ensure a wide representation of talent on key boards such as the new Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and RTE,” he said.

“To meet these criteria the Minister introduced the innovative idea that in addition to appointments by himself, further nominations would be made by the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. However, this process has resulted in the appointment of several people whose eligibility under the Act is being questioned.”

He said all of the people involved are talented, have a contribution to make and do not deserve to be put in this invidious position. “The process provided under the Act has let them down, it has let broadcasting down and it has failed the laudable principles it was intended to support,” he continued. “Talented and reputable people are having their reputations sullied and a legal cloud now hangs over critically important boards and their decisions.”

“There now needs to be immediate clarification of the status of all the existing directors of the BAI and RTE. There further needs to be immediate clarification of the status of all decisions made by these bodies since these appointments were made. On behalf of the members of the IBI, I especially want clarification of the position in regard to the status of the BAI budget which will be funded by a levy imposed on foot of a BAI board decision on broadcasters”