The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (11th September) published the most recent broadcasting complaints decisions.
At its meeting held on 22nd July, the Compliance Committee of the BAI considered seven complaints. Of these, one complaint was upheld in part and six complaints were rejected. In addition, one complaint was resolved by the Executive Complaints Forum at its meeting, held in August.
The complaints related to the following broadcasts:
Upheld in Part by the BAI Compliance Committee
RTÉ One Television: The Voice of Ireland: 23rd March 2014.
Rejected by BAI Compliance Committee
RTÉ 2FM: Drive By with Colm Hayes: 13th March 2014.
RTÉ Radio 1: Morning Ireland: 12th March 2014.
RTÉ Two Television: The Centre: 24th March 2014 (Two complaints received)
RTÉ Two Television: The Centre: 31st March 2014
Newstalk: Promo for The Right Hook: 15th May 2014.
Resolved by the Executive Complaints Forum
RTÉ Two Television: The Republic of Telly: 12th May 2014.
Details of all these decisions are available to download here.
Media Queries to:
Tony Heffernan/Emily Kelly
DHR Communications
087 2399508 / 087-9759248
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 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.