OK, the following is the situation as it is portrayed to me by a number of different sales agents in the UK (Manchester call centre I believe)

To confirm a number of details, no HHA,

As an Irish Resident there is no way for BA to verify my credit card address and therefore there is no way for me to book flights using Avios for someone other than myself.

An agent in the BAEC suggested calling the US office. When I spoke to the US BAEC office tonight they told me they were only authorised to deal with account holders and credit cards with billing addresses in US, Canada or Bermuda.

UK residents must have 2 credit cards whose billing addresses must both match the billing address of the BAEC account to confirm.

One thing has occurred to me. Is it possible to book Aer Lingus flights using Avios via Avios.com or via Iberia? (I have an activated Iberia account so could transfer the points to there if it would get around this ridiculous catch-22, but not sure if they have EI as a partner)