Decisions
Members of the public have a right to complain if they see or hear content (broadcast or made available on an audiovisual on-demand service) that does not meet standards that are set out in statute (Part 3B of the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulation Acts 2009 and 2022) and/or in a media service code and rule.
The right to make a complaint is provided at section 48(1) of the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulation Acts 2009 and 2022.
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 audiovisual on-demand media service provider;
- dismiss it (in certain circumstances); or
- consider it for investigation.
Where we do not refer a complaint to the relevant broadcaster or media service provider or dismiss it, we are required to refer the complaint to be considered for investigation. A decision to refer a complaint to be considered for investigation 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 our decision is set out in our complaints process.
We are required to publish notice of our complaint decisions on our website.
Historical complaint decisions from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland can be viewed by year (PDFs): 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
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