Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
681. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will appoint the final Government appointee to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; the timeframe for the appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36877/16]
View answer682. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will appoint the final Government appointee to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; if not, the reasons for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36878/16]
View answer684. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the vetting process or assessment criteria for appointees to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; if conflicts of interest are taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36880/16]
View answer686. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publicly advertise for the position on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, for which the Government has an appointee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36882/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 681, 682, 684 and 686 together.
Appointments to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) are made by Government, on my nomination as Minister, in accordance with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009. There is currently one vacancy on the Authority.
In addition to appointments to the BAI, the Government, on my nomination, makes appointments to two BAI statutory committees, namely the Contract Awards Committee and the Compliance Committee. There is currently one vacancy on each of these Committees with a further vacancy due to arise on the Compliance Committee in January.
The 3 current vacancies, as well as the upcoming vacancy, will be filled in accordance with the provisions of the 2009 Act and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards published in November 2014. In line with the Guidelines, the vacancies have been publically advertised on the websites of the Public Appointments Service (PAS), the BAI and my own Department. The closing date for applications is 8 December 2016 after which applications will be assessed and a shortlist provided to me for consideration. It is my intention to bring my nominations to Government as soon as possible after the shortlist is provided to me.
The assessment criteria in each case are detailed in the public advertisements. Candidates must in all cases confirm that they do not have any conflicts of interest which would likely interfere with their ability to play a full part on the Authority or relevant Committee.
