Columnist John Waters has resigned from the board of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the authority said this afternoon.

In a statement, the authority said the Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte had received Waters’s resignation.

The columnist was appointed to the authority, which regulates all broadcasting in Ireland, by the Government in September 2009. He has served on the authority’s compliance committees and was a serving member of the contract awards committee when he resigned.

Chairperson of the authority, Bob Collins said Waters had been a valued member of the authority and of both statutory committees since the establishment of the BAI in 2009.

“He brought additional expertise and experience to the authority through his previous service on the Board of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland,” he said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his service and know I speak for my fellow members when I say that his insights and contributions will be missed.”

Waters declined to comment when contacted by The Irish Times.