RTÉ’s Complaints Process
Under the Broadcasting Act 2009 (Sections 47 and 48) all broadcasters are obliged to put in place a practice for dealing with complaints. The Act states that:
- A broadcaster shall give due and adequate consideration to a complaint, made in writing by a person in respect of the broadcasting service provided by the broadcaster which, in the opinion of the broadcaster, has been made in good faith and is not of a frivolous or vexatious nature. Section 47 (1)
- A complaint shall be made to the broadcaster not more than 30 days after the date of the broadcast Section 47 (2) (a)
- A broadcaster shall prepare and implement a code of practice for the handling of complaints Section 47 (3)
There is therefore a clear statutory process to allow people make complaints to broadcasters which may ultimately be appealed to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland if a person is not satisfied with the response provided by the broadcaster in the first instance.
Any person who wishes to make a formal complaint about a broadcast is required to comply with certain conditions to facilitate the broadcaster in processing the complaint. However, a person may not wish to engage in that process but rather may want a mechanism to make their views and/or opinions known to the broadcaster.
Tell RTÉ What You Think
There is a very clear distinction between embarking upon the formal statutory complaints process and having the opportunity to air your views to senior RTÉ management.
RTÉ has a facility to allow any person put their views directly to senior management whether that concerns a particular programme; what RTÉ does and does not cover, the content of our schedules, or other issues.
An audience member may wish to commend or criticise a programme or content or suggest ideas or changes.
RTÉ is listening.
We welcome this feedback and we circulate it weekly to senior management as it provides a direct and valuable insight into the views of our audience.
If you wish to avail of this process to set out your views to senior management please use the following email address, feedback@rte.ie
Code of Practice for the Handling of Complaints
If you wish to make a formal complaint about a broadcast please read the following sections carefully as they set out how to use this process.
RTÉ is obliged under Section 39 (1) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to ensure that:
(a) all news broadcast is reported and presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views.
(b) the broadcast treatment of current affairs, including matters which are either of public controversy or the subject of current public debate, is fair to all interests concerned and that the broadcast matter is presented in an objective and impartial manner and without any expression of his or her own views, except that should it prove impracticable in relation to a single broadcast to apply this paragraph, two or more related broadcasts may be considered as a whole, if the broadcasts are transmitted within a reasonable period of each other.
(d) anything which may reasonably be regarded as causing harm or offence, or as likely to promote, or incite to, crime or as tending to undermine the authority of the State, is not broadcast .
(e) in programmes and in the means employed to make such programmes, the privacy of an individual is not unreasonably encroached upon.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1)(a) or (b) prevents (RTÉ) from transmitting party political broadcasts provided that (RTÉ) does not, in the allocation of time for such broadcasts, give an unfair preference to any political party.
RTÉ is also obliged to comply with the following Broadcasting Codes prepared by the BAI governing standards and practice in programming and advertising.
1. BAI General Communications Code (Advertising)
2. BAI Children’s Commercial Communications code (Children’s Advertising)
3. BAI Code of Programme Standards
4. The On-Demand Audiovisual Services Code (ODAS Code)
These codes are available on the BAI website – Click Here
Making a Complaint
RTÉ is committed to responding to all reasonable complaints concerning programme content or advertising which are not considered to be of a frivolous or vexatious nature. It is RTÉ’s policy that all complaints should receive meaningful replies which attempt to address issues raised in complaints. RTÉ aims to ensure that all complaints received in writing or by-email shall be replied to by an appropriate member of the production team within 20 working days.
If members of the public are of the opinion that a programme or a segment of a programme or an advertisement broadcast on RTÉ has:
- Breached a provision of section 39 (1) (a), (b), (d) or (e) of the Broadcasting Act 2009
or
- Failed to comply with a provision of the BAI Codes.
they are entitled to make a formal complaint to RTÉ. The complaint should be sent to the RTÉ Complaints office:
3rd Floor Admin Building
RTÉ
Donnybrook
Dublin 4
or by e-mail to complaints@rte.ie
What constitutes a valid complaint?
A valid complaint about a broadcast under the Broadcasting Act or any of the BAI Codes must contain specific information about the nature of the the complaint:
- Firstly, the complaint must specify the name of the programme broadcast and the time and date of the broadcast item that is the subject of the complaint;
- Secondly, the complainant must state what aspect of the Broadcasting Act and/or the relevant BAI Code(s) were breached and in what way they believe they were breached.
This information is required for the following reasons;
- It allows the broadcaster to identify the broadcast that is the subject of the complaint, the nature of the complaint and this facilitates a meaningful response being prepared by the relevant programme editor/producer;
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the response this can be appealed to the BAI where the above information will be sought as part of the appeal process. In this way, providing the information at the outset ensures the entire process can function as intended.
As you will see from above, RTÉ has provided a broad outline of the kind of complaints that can be made. You can also access the BAI Codes and Standards information here.
It is important that a complainant takes time to be familiar with these provisions as it ensures any complaint made is clear and appropriately set out. A broadcaster is not in a position to address general or unspecified complaints and cannot be expected to second guess what exact breach of the Code(s) the complainant wishes to cite.
If RTÉ receives a complaint that does not contain the above information we will write back to the complainant requesting that more precise information is provided to allow us process the complaint. If the information sought is not provided the email will be deemed as Feedback.
Complaints to the Compliance Committee of the BAI
Members of the public may complain to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) if they are not satisfied with the response RTÉ has made to their complaint. The BAI will consider the complaint and may carry out an independent review of the complaint and the response the complainant has received. Information on how to refer a complaint to the BAI is available on the BAI website or from the following address.
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
2-5 Warrington Place
Dublin 2
Telephone: (01) 644 1200
Making a Complaint about Advertising on RTÉ
Members the public who wish to complain about advertisements broadcast on RTÉ may also complain to the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI).
Próiseas Gearáin RTÉ
Tá dlite ar na craoltóirí ar fad faoin Acht Craolacháin 2009 (Alt 47 & Alt 48) gnás oibre a chur ar bun maidir le déileáil le gearáin. Is é a luaitear san Acht:
· Déanfaidh craoltóir leorbhreithniú cuí ar ghearán, a dhéanfaidh duine maidir leis an tseirbhís craolacháin a sholáthraíonn an craoltóir, is gearán arb é tuairim an chraoltóra ina leith gur de mheon macánta a rinneadh é agus nach gearán suaibhreosach nó cráiteach é. Alt 47 (1)
· Déanfar gearán leis an gcraoltóir tráth nach déanaí ná 30 lá tar éis dháta an chraolta Alt 47 (2) (a)
· Déanfaidh craoltóir cód cleachtais a ullmhú agus a chur i ngníomh chun déileáil le gearáin Alt 47 (3)
Cód Cleachtais chun Déileáil le Gearáin
Tá dlite ar RTÉ faoi Alt 39 (1) den Acht Craolacháin 2009 a chinntiú:
(a) go ndéanfar an nuacht go léir a chraolfaidh an craoltóir a thuairisciú agus a chur i láthair go hoibiachtúil agus go neamhchlaonta gan aon tuairimí de chuid an chraoltóra féin a chur in iúl.
(b) go ndéanfar, nuair a bheifear ag déileáil i gcraolacháin le cúrsaí reatha, lena n-áirítear nithe is ábhair chonspóide poiblí nó is ábhair díospóireachta reatha poiblí, cothrom na féinne a thabhairt do na leasanna uile lena mbaineann agus go gcuirfear an t-ábhar a chraolfar i láthair go hoibiachtúil agus go neamhchlaonta gan aon tuairimí dá chuid féin nó dá cuid féin a nochtadh, ach amháin i gcás nach mbeidh sé indéanta an mhír seo a chur i bhfeidhm i ndáil le haon chraolachán aonair, go bhféadfar a mheas gur aonad amháin dhá chraolachán ghaolmhara nó níos mó, má tharchuirtear na craolacháin laistigh de thréimhse réasúnach óna chéile.
(c) nach gcraolfar aon ní a bhféadfaí a mheas le réasún gur ní is cúis le díobháil nó col, nó gur dóigh dó coireacht a chur chun cinn nó a ghríosú nó gur de ghné é a dhéanfadh dochar d’údarás an Stáit.
(d) nach ndéanfar, i gcláir a chraolfaidh an craoltóir, agus sna modhanna a úsáidfear chun na cláir sin a dhéanamh, cúngú míréasúnach ar phríobháideachas aon phearsan aonair.
(2) Ní choiscfidh aon ní i bhfo-alt (1)(a) nó (b) ar chraoltóir craolacháin páirtithe polaitíochta a tharchur ar choinníoll nach ndéanfaidh craoltóir, le linn dó an t-am le haghaidh craolacháin den sórt sin a leithroinnt, tosaíocht mhíchothrom a thabhairt d’aon pháirtí polaitíochta.
Tá ceangailte ar RTÉ freisin cloí leis na Cóid Craolacháin seo a leanas arna n-ullmhú ag an Údarás Craolacháin (BAI) i ndáil le caighdeáin agus gnáis maidir le cláir agus le fógraíocht.
1. BAI Cód Ginearálta maidir le Cumarsáid Tráchtála (Fógraíocht)
2. BAI Cód na bPáistí maidir le Cumarsáid Tráchtála (Fógraíocht le Leanaí)
3. BAI Cód um Chaighdeáin Chláir
4. The Cód Iompair ODAS (Seirbhísí Closamhairc ar a nÉileamh) do Sheirbhísí Meáin (Seirbhísí Closamhairc ar a n-éileamh)
Tá teacht ar na cóid sin ar shuíomh idirlín an Údaráis Craolacháin – Cliceáil Anseo
Anuas ar an méid thuasluaite, tá Caighdeáin agus Treoirlínte dá chuid féin go hinmheánach ag RTÉ maidir le Cláir.
Gearán a Dhéanamh
Sa chás go bhfuil duine den phobal den tuairim gur tharla, le clár nó le mír ar chlár nó le fógra a chraoladh ar RTÉ:
· Foráil de chuid alt 39 (1) (a), (b), (d) nó (e) den Acht Craolacháin 2009 a shárú
nó
· Teip cloí le foráil de chuid Chóid an Údaráis Craolacháin
táthar i dteideal an tuairim sin a chur in iúl trí ghearán a dhéanamh le RTÉ. Ba chóir an gearán a sheoladh chuid Oifig Gearáin RTÉ:
An 3ú Stór, An Foirgneamh Riaracháin, RTÉ Domhnach Broc, Baile Átha Cliath 4 nó ar ríomhphost chuig complaints@rte.ie
Tá RTÉ tugtha de fhreagra a thabhairt ar gach gearán réasúnach maidir le hábhar cláir nó le fógraíocht nach meastar gur go suaibhreosach nó go cráiteach a rinneadh é. Tá de pholasaí ag RTÉ gur cheart freagra ciallmhar a chur ar gach gearán agus iarracht a dhéanamh sa fhreagra sin déileáil leis na ceisteanna a tharraingítear anuas sa ghearán. Déanfar freagra ón mball cuí den fhoireann léiriúcháin a sheoladh laistigh de thréimhse 20 lá oibre ar gach gearán a fhaightear i scríbhinn nó ar an ríomhphost.
Athbhreithniú Inmheánach ar Ghearáin
Sa chás nach mbíonn duine den phobal a rinne gearán sásta leis an bhfreagra a fhaightear, tá próiseas athbhreithnithe ar fáil dóibh laistigh de RTÉ. Bainisteoir Eagarthóireachta is sinsearaí ná an ball foirne a chuir freagra ar an ngearán ar dtús a dhéanfaidh an t-athbhreithniú i ngach cás. Ba chóir an t-iarratas maidir le hathbhreithniú inmheánach a sheoladh chuig:
An Ceannasaí maidir le Comhlíontas Craolacháin RTÉ Domhnach Broc Baile Átha Cliath 4 nó ar an ríomhphost chuig complaints@rte.ie
Gearán le Coiste Comhlíontais an Údaráis Craolacháin
Is féidir le duine den phobal gearán a dhéanamh le hÚdarás Craolacháin na hÉireann (BAI) mura mbítear sásta leis an bhfreagra a thugann RTÉ ar ghearán. Déanfaidh an BAI an gearán a mheas agus d’fhéadfadh go ndéanfadh an BAI athbhreithniú neamhspleách ar an ngearán agus ar an bhfreagra a fuair an gearánaí. Tá eolas faoin modh ina gcuirtear gearán faoi bhráid an BAI ar fáil ar shuíomh idirlín an BAI nó ón seoladh seo a leanas.
Údarás Craolacháin na hÉireann 2-5 Plás Warrington Baile Átha Cliath 2
Teileafón: (01) 644 1200
Gearán a dhéanamh maidir le Fógraíocht ar RTÉ
Is féidir le duine den phobal atá i mbun gearán a dhéanamh faoi fhógraí a craoladh ar RTÉ gearán a dhéanamh freisin leis an Údarás Caighdeán Fógraíochta d’Éirinn (ASAI)
Outline of Complaints 2021
In 2021, 74 complaints were made to the BAI regarding RTÉ programmes. 63 complaints against RTÉ programmes were not upheld. 10 were upheld (in respect of NYE Programme). One was partially upheld (in respect of Drivetime)
The 74 complaints to the BAI are broken down as follows:
Output Area (No. of Complaint Referrals)
Radio Programmes: 6
TV Programmes: 17
Radio News and Current Affairs: 24
TV News and Current Affairs: 27
Advertising: 0
Sport: 0
Sponsorship: 0
The most complained about programmes were NYE Programme (‘God sketch’) and Claire Byrne Live of 18.10.21.
The BAI Compliance Committee formed the opinion that in 2021, 6 complaints came within the provisions of Section 48(13) of the Act and were, therefore, deemed to be not made in good faith, and were of a frivolous and vexatious nature.
Outline of Complaints 2020
In 2020, 46 complaints were made to the BAI regarding RTÉ programmes. 45 complaints against RTÉ programmes were not upheld. One was partially upheld (in respect of the Brendan O’Connor Show on RTÉ Radio 1).
The 46 complaints to the BAI are broken down as follows:
Output Area (No. of Complaint Referrals)
Radio Programmes: 6
TV Programmes: 8
Radio News and Current Affairs: 12
TV News and Current Affairs: 15
Advertising: 3
Sport: 2
Sponsorship: 0
The complaints were spread out fairly evenly among a number of programmes so there are none standing out for having the most complaints.
The BAI Compliance Committee formed the opinion that in 2020, 4 complaints came within the provisions of Section 48(13) of the Act and were, therefore, deemed to be not made in good faith, and were of a frivolous and vexatious nature.
Outline of Complaints 2019
In 2019, 55 complaints were made to the BAI regarding RTÉ programmes. None were upheld. 51 RTÉ programmes were not upheld, while 4 Complaints were closed (not pursued) by the complainant.
The 55 complaints to the BAI are broken down as follows:
Output Area (No. of Complaint Referrals)
Radio Programmes: 6
Radio News and Current Affairs: 11
TV Programmes: 7
TV News and Current Affairs: 23
Advertising: 7
Sponsorship: 1
Most complained about programme: RTÉ Investigates: Greyhounds, Running for their Lives. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland rejected all the complaints brought against this programme.
Outline of Complaints 2018
In 2018, 52 complaints were made to the BAI regarding RTÉ programmes, 2 of which were partly upheld.
The 52 complaints to the BAI are broken down as follows:
Output Area (No. of Complaint Referrals)
Advertising (4)
Radio programmes (4)
Television programmes (16)
News & Current Affairs (Television) (14)
News & Current Affairs (Radio) (9)
Sponsorship (5)
The programmes with the most complaints were:
The Late Late Show (11)
Claire Byrne Live (8)
The complaints which were party upheld by the BAI were:
- Six One News, RTÉ One (BAI Ref 19/18); Decision 23rd January, 2018
- Eoghan McDermott Show, RTÉ 2FM (BAI Ref 31/18); Decision 8th March 2018