Latest Broadcasting Complaint Decisions Published

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (17th December) published the most recent broadcasting complaints decisions.

At its meeting held in October 2015, the Compliance Committee of the BAI considered 12 complaints. Six complaints were upheld by the Compliance Committee while a further six complaints were rejected.

One of the six complaints upheld concerned a news bulletin broadcast on Classic Hits 4FM while the remaining five complaints upheld related to a broadcast of The Ray D’Arcy Show on RTÉ Radio One. The BAI has previously issued the complaint decisions relating to The Ray D’Arcy Show.

In addition, 15 complaints were considered and rejected by the Executive Complaints Forum at meetings held in September, October and November 2015.

The complaints related to the following broadcasts:-

Upheld
102/15 – Classic Hits 4FM: News Bulletin: 28th May 2015
114/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 9th June 2015
126/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 9th June 2015
127/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 9th June 2015

Upheld in Part by the BAI Compliance Committee
123/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 9th June 2015
124/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 9th June 2015

Rejected by the BAI Compliance Committee
50/15 –RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 5th February 2015
53/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: Liveline: 9th February 2015
89/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: Liveline: 19th May 2015
90/15 – RTÉ 1: The Consumer Show: 8th April 2015
101/15 – TV3: “Live from the George”: 23rd May 2015
122/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: The Ray D’Arcy Show: 9th June 2015

Rejected by the BAI Executive Complaints Forum
107/15 –Newstalk FM: Newstalk Breakfast: 28th January 2015
110-113/15 –Newstalk FM: Newstalk Breakfast: 2nd–5th June 2015
115/15 – RTÉ 2FM: Breakfast Republic: 22nd June 2015
92-94/15 –: RTÉ Radio 1: Drivetime: 20th, 22nd & 23rd April 2015
95-97/15 –RTÉ Radio 1: Drivetime: 20th, 22nd & 23rd April 2015
117 & 118/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: the Marian Finucane Show: 23rd & 24th May 2015
119/15 – RTÉ Radio 1: Today with Sean O’Rourke: 26th June 2015

Details of all these decisions are available to download here.

ENDS
Media Queries to: Tony Heffernan / Joanne Ahern
DHR Communications
01 4200580/ 087 2399508/ 087 9881837

Note to Editors
Under the Broadcasting Act 2009, viewers and listeners can complain about broadcasting content, which they believe is not in keeping with the BAI’s broadcasting codes and rules. In line with the BAI’s complaints handling process, the viewer or listener should direct their complaint to the broadcaster in the first instance. This must be done within 30 days of the date of the broadcast.
If a viewer or listener is not satisfied with the response from the broadcaster, or if the broadcaster does not respond within the timeframe specified in their Code of Practice for Complaints Handling (usually 21 days after receipt of complaint), the viewer or listener can refer the complaint to the BAI for consideration.
In assessing complaints, and having regard to its codes and rules, the BAI considers the material submitted by the relevant parties together with the broadcast material. Complaints are assessed at Executive level and/or by the Compliance Committee of the Authority.
When a complaint has been adjudicated upon:
• A copy of the decision is sent to the complainant and the broadcaster before its publication.
• Where a programming complaint is upheld in whole or in part, the broadcaster concerned will broadcast the Compliance Committee’s decision, if the Compliance Committee believes it appropriate to do so. This could include the name of the person who made the complaint. This will be done at a time and manner suitably similar or close to the timing of the original broadcast which prompted the complaint. The only exception to this will be a situation where the Compliance Committee considers it inappropriate to broadcast the decision.
• The decisions of the BAI are distributed to the media and posted to the BAI’s website, unless it considers it inappropriate to do so.
• When the BAI has considered the matter and issued its determination, that is the end of the process.