The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (7th May) published the most recent broadcasting complaints decisions.
At its meeting on 25th March 2014, the Compliance Committee of the BAI considered six complaints in respect of four programmes. Of these, one complaint was upheld in part and five complaints were rejected. In addition, one complaint was resolved by the Executive Complaints Forum at its meeting, also held in March. The complaints related to the following broadcasts:
Upheld in Part by BAI Compliance Committee
- Cork City Community Radio: Rebel Radio: 16th November 2014.
Rejected by BAI Compliance Committee
- RTÉ One Television: Prime Time: 24th October 2013.
- RTÉ One Television: The Late Late Show: 6th December 2013.
- RTÉ One Television: The Saturday Night Show: 25th January 2014 (3 complaints considered).
Resolved by the Executive Complaints Forum
- RTÉ One Television: Six One News: 2nd December 2013.
Details of all these decisions are available to download here.
Media Queries to:
Catherine Heaney /Tony Heffernan
DHR Communications
087 2309835 /087 2399508
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- When the Compliance Committee has considered the matter and issued its determination, that is the end of the process.
Full details of the complaints process, including contact details for complaints to individual broadcasters is available here.