Governance structure
Coimisiún na Meán is led by a Chairperson and four Commissioners, collectively referred to as the Commission. These full-time executive staff members are appointed by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
The Commission is the decision-making body of Coimisiún na Meán. The powers and functions of the Commission are set out in section 7 of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022.
| Commissioner | Role | First Appointed | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Godfrey | Chairperson | 15/3/2023 | 14/3/2028 |
| Aoife MacEvilly | Broadcasting & Video-on-Demand | 22/7/2024 | 21/7/2029 |
| John Evans | Digital Services | 24/7/2023 | 23/7/2028 |
| Niamh Hodnett | Online Safety | 15/3/2023 | 14/3/2028 |
| Rónán Ó Domhnaill | Media Landscape | 15/3/2023 | 14/3/2028 |
The role of the Chairperson
The chairperson manages and control generally the staff, administration and business of the Commission. He performs his functions subject to such policies as may be determined from time to time by the Commission and in line with the Commission’s Statement of Strategy and Workplan which is required to be drawn up and adopted by the Commission. The Chairperson is required to provide evidence to the Dáil Éireann Committee, when requested, on the regularity and propriety of the Commission’s transactions, the economy and efficiency of its resource use, the effectiveness of its operations, and any relevant issues in reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Audit and Risk Committee
Coimisiún na Meán established an Audit & Risk Committee (ARC) in its first year of operation. Its purpose is to assist the Commission in relation to its responsibilities as set out in its governing legislation, the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulations Acts 2009 and 2022 and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016, including risk, internal control, and associated assurance.
The role of the ARC is set out in terms of reference approved by the Commission. The members of the Committee are as follows:
| Member | Role | First Appointed | Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Byron | Independent Chairperson | 25/05/2023 | 31/12/2025 |
| Aoife MacEvilly | Commissioner | 05/09/2024 | 04/09/2027 |
| Niamh Hodnett | Commissioner | 25/05/2023 | 31/12/2025 |
| Ciara Lynch | Independent Financial Member | 01/12/2023 | 30/11/2026 |