Today, Minister Ryan announced that he is to appoint Bob Collins as a member of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland.
Minister Ryan: “I am delighted someone of Bob Collins’ calibre and experience is joining the BCI. His distinguished 28 year career in RTÉ and current position as head of the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland demonstrate a commitment to public service in its widest sense.
His thoughtful judgment and innate fairness will be a considerable asset to the BCI as it oversees Ireland’s independent broadcasting services. Bob is acutely conscious of the place of broadcasting in social and political life. Currently Chair of Connect World, Bob spends much of his time helping Irish journalists to gain a fuller understanding of the problems of the developing world. I know he has also assisted journalists and independent broadcasters throughout Africa and in the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe.
His profound interest in the role of the media will be of great assistance to the BCI. He will be part of a board that sets the standards of both programming and codes of conduct for advertising. His awareness of the commercial realities of broadcasting coupled with the intellectual rigour he brings to all his roles can only enhance the BCI.
I wish him well in his tenure and am very pleased to have him on board.”
Notes to Editors:
Biographical details of Mr. Bob Collins
A holder of a BA and MBA from University College Dublin, Bob Collins joined RTÉ in 1975 as Secretary to the Authority, was appointed Deputy Controller of Programmes (Television) in 1980 and served as Director of Television Programmes from 1986 to 1993. He was appointed Director of Corporate Affairs in 1993, Assistant Director-General in 1995 and Director-General in April 1997. He stepped down as Director-General in October 2003.
Bob Collins also served as Chairman of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) Television Committee from 1996 until April 2003. He was Chairman of the Celtic Film and Television Association from 1991 to 1994. He was very closely involved with every stage of the development of Teilifís na Gaeilge and was a member of the first Comhairle (interim Authority). He was Director of the Merriman Summer School (1981 and 1982).
Bob Collins was appointed as Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission on 1 August 2005. He is also currently Chairman of Connect-World - a body established to promote greater awareness of development issues in the media. Mr Collins is also a member of the Board of the National Library of Ireland and of the Ulster Orchestra Society.
Functions of the BCI
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) is an independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of activity with regard to television and radio services in Ireland. For more detailed breakdown of their responsibilities please see their website at: www.bci.ie
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