Complaint decisions
You have a right to complain if you believe you have seen or heard something broadcast or made available on a video-on-demand service that does not meet statutory standards that are set out in Part 3B of the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulation Acts 2009 and 2022, and/or in a media service code and rule.
Coimisiún na Meán’s role in relation to complaints is to consider a complaint and decide whether to:
- refer it to be handled by the relevant broadcaster or video-on-demand provider;
- dismiss it (in certain circumstances); or
- consider it for investigation.
Where a complaint is to be considered for investigation, this is not a decision that there has been a breach of statutory and/or regulatory standards in the complaint or that an investigation is warranted.
The criteria for this decision is set out on how we deal with complaints to us.
For any questions not answered, you can contact us at: 01 963 7755 or [email protected].
We are required to publish notice of our complaint decisions on our website. Complaint decisions to date are listed below.
Historical complaint decisions from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland can be viewed by year: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
Section 69 of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act (2022) established transitional arrangements for the handling of complaints that were made before the establishment of Coimisiún na Meán on 15 March 2023, but which had not been decided upon, withdrawn or resolved by that date. View these transitional complaint decisions (PDF).
Broadcasting & VOD Complaints Insight Report
We’ve been receiving broadcasting and video-on-demand complaints from the public since our establishment in March 2023. Now, we’ve compiled an Insights Report for complaints received and decided on between 2023 and the end of 2025.
Database of complaint decisions
The database was last updated with decisions dated 29.05.2026
CAS-01415
- Programme:
- Advertisement for Eir Gigabit Fibre Broadband
- Broadcast / VOD service:
- Newstalk 106-108FM
- Date broadcast or accessed:
- 16.03.2023
- Statute and/or regulatory code:
- General Commercial Communications Code: Principle 1 – Human Dignity, Offence and Harm, Rules 4.1 and 5.4
- Short description:
- The complaint alleged the advertisement contained misleading claims about cable broadband and unsubstantiated claims comparing fibre and cable broadband..
- Outcome:
- Referred
- Commission Decision:
- Refer the complaint to the broadcaster for consideration under its Code of Practice for Complaint Handling, pursuant to section 48(3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended.
- Commission Decision Date:
- 10.07.2024
CAS-01416
- Programme:
- Scoreline
- Broadcast / VOD service:
- KCLR FM
- Date broadcast or accessed:
- 26.03.2023
- Statute and/or regulatory code:
- Code of Programme Standards: Principle 5 – Respect for Persons and Groups in Society. Sections 46J(1)(a)(d) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended.
- Short description:
- The complaint alleged the use of certain language within the broadcast caused harm and undue offence on the basis of religion.
- Outcome:
- Dismissed
- Commission Decision:
- Dismiss - Pursuant to section 48(4)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended
- Commission Decision Date:
- 10.07.2024
CAS-01437
- Programme:
- Liveline
- Broadcast / VOD service:
- RTÉ Radio 1
- Date broadcast or accessed:
- 13.03.2013
- Statute and/or regulatory code:
- Code of Programme Standards: Principle 6 – Protection of the Public Interest Section. 46J(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended.
- Short description:
- The complaint alleged the treatment of a discussion about cat culling, promoted or incited the public to commit a crime.
- Outcome:
- Dismissed
- Commission Decision:
- Dismiss - Pursuant to section 48(4)(a) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended)
- Commission Decision Date:
- 10.07.2024
CAS-01438
- Programme:
- The Ray Foley Show
- Broadcast / VOD service:
- Today FM
- Date broadcast or accessed:
- 21.04.2023
- Statute and/or regulatory code:
- Code of Programme Standards: Principle 5 – Respect for Persons and Groups in Society. Sections 46J(1)(a)(d) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended.
- Short description:
- The complaint alleged the presenter of the programme made a xenophobic comment about a person’s nationality.
- Outcome:
- Referred
- Commission Decision:
- Refer the complaint to an authorised person to be considered for investigation (pursuant to section 48(5) of the Broadcasting Act 2009, as amended)
- Commission Decision Date:
- 10.07.2024
- Authorised Person's Decision:
- There is reason to suspect there has been a contravention of the relevant statute and/or a media service code or rule by the relevant broadcaster/video-on-demand provider but to resolve the matter by engaging with the relevant broadcaster/video-on-demand provider.
- Authorised Person's Decision Date:
- 20.08.2025