On 27th July 2001, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Sile de Valera T.D., made an Order appointing 1st September 2001 as the date on which the Broadcasting Act 2001 will come into operation.
Under Section 10 (1) of the Act, the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) will be known henceforth as the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) or Coimisiun Craolacháin na hEireann.
The new Act confers many additional functions on the Commission including
- The drawing up and enforcement of Codes and Rules relating to programming and advertising matters
- The licensing of additional television services on digital, cable, MMD and satellite systems and
- The provision of a secretariat service to the newly enhanced Broadcasting Complaints Commission.
The Board of the BCI will meet in late September to review its new responsibilities under the Act and to plan a timeframe for their implementation.
In the meantime, from Monday (3rd September) all correspondence to the Commission should be addressed to the
Broadcasting Commission of Ireland
Marine House
Clanwilliam Place
Dublin 2
Telephone, e-mail and website details remain unchanged for the present.