Latest Broadcasting Complaints Decisions Published
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has today (6th February) published the most recent broadcasting complaints decisions.
At its meetings held on 18th October, 15th November and the 13th of December 2017, the Compliance Committee of the BAI considered 11 complaints. The complaints considered by the Compliance Committee concerned programmes aired on RTÉ One TV, RTÉ Radio 1, RTÉ 2FM, and Newstalk 106-108FM.
Five complaints were upheld/upheld in part and these related to the following broadcasts:-
- RTÉ One TV: Eco Eye: 7th February 2017
- Newstalk: Newstalk Breakfast: 27th July 2017
- RTÉ Radio 1: Morning Ireland: 31st July 2017
- Newstalk: High Noon: 8th September 2017
Six complaints were rejected. The Compliance Committee considered it appropriate not to publish two of these complaints. The other four complaints rejected related to the following broadcasts:
- RTÉ 2FM: Game On: 3rd February 2017
- RTÉ One TV: Ireland’s Property Crisis: 3rd and 10th April 2017
- RTÉ One TV: The Late Late Show: 6th June 2017
- Newstalk: Advert for MSL Motor Group: August 2017
The Executive Complaints Forum of the BAI considered and rejected 22 complaints.
Details of all these decisions are available to download here.
ENDS
Media queries to: Joanne Ahern, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 /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 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.
- Where a complaint is deemed resolved or rejected, the Compliance Committee is satisfied that the matter has been dealt with and that no further action is required.
- 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.
- The decisions deal with the issue of whether a programme or a commercial communication did or did not comply with the relevant legal requirements and the relevant broadcasting codes or rules. The decisions do not constitute endorsement or support for the views of either parties to the complaint nor will they address every aspect of a complaint submission.