Complain about media

Irish television channels, radio, newspapers, online newspapers and video on-demand (streaming) services mainly run without state interference or censorship. Instead, licensed media companies agree to follow codes of practice on how they should behave. These codes of practice give guidelines on what they should and should not publish or broadcast.

This page explains your options if you want to complain about a television, radio or video on-demand broadcast, or a newspaper article or a piece of journalism published online.

On 15 March 2023, Coimisiún na Meán (this means the media commission) replaced the Broadcast Authority of Ireland (BAI) as the media regulator for online safety, radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and video on-demand services.

The Press Council is the independent body that oversees news publications. Coimisiún na Meán and the Press Ombudsman can investigate complaints and decide if the media company involved has breached a code of practice.

Freedom of expression is protected in the Irish Constitution. This is the right to freely express your convictions and opinions. However, Ireland also has censorship laws, which restrict freedom of expression in certain circumstances. You can find out more about censorship in Ireland.

If you want to complain about a radio, television or video on-demand broadcast, or a piece of journalism, first check if the media company involved is regulated in Ireland.

Coimisiún na Meán keeps a list of broadcast services and a register of video on-demand services that it regulates.

The Press Council has a list of current member publications.

The following types of media are not currently under the control of the Press Council or licensed and regulated by Coimisiún na Meán :

• Television broadcasts that originate outside of Ireland (for example, BBC or Sky)
• Programmes and movies streamed on video on-demand platforms established outside of Ireland, such as Netflix.
• Foreign newspapers available in Ireland (unless they are Irish versions of these newspapers, for example 'The Irish Sun')
• Online news channels that are not members of the Irish Press Council

If you believe that you have been defamed by a newspaper or online newspaper article, you can get legal advice. Defamation is when your reputation is injured by the publication of the article.

The Press Ombudsman will not investigate complaints if legal action has begun.

How do I complain to the company?

First, send your complaint in writing, by post or email, to the editor of the publication, explaining why you think the article has breached the code of practice. You must also explain why the material directly affects you.

If you do not get a response within 2 weeks or if you are not happy with the response, make a complaint in writing to the Press Ombudsman. You can also complain about the behaviour of a journalist.

How do I complain to the Press Ombudsman?

You must complain to the Press Ombudsman within 3 months of the date of publication of the article or when the incident happened.

You must make your complaint in writing either by email or post, or by using the online complaint form.

Your complaint to the Ombudsman should contain the following:

• Your contact details
• A summary of your complaint giving details of which part(s) of the code of practice you feel has been breached and why you believe this
• How you are personally affected by the article
• A dated copy of the print article or screengrab or link to the online article (if applicable)
• Copy of your letter or email to the editor and their response

What happens after I make a complaint?

If your complaint is accepted, the Press Ombudsman will send a copy to the editor of the publication. It will then try to resolve the issue through mediation. This may take up to 6 weeks.

If agreement cannot be reached, the Ombudsman will carry out a more detailed investigation and make a decision. The decision will be sent to you and to the publication concerned. The decision can be anonymised if you prefer.

If the Ombudsman reaches a decision in your favour, the publication concerned must publish the decision, unless it has been appealed. The decision is also published on the Press Ombudsman’s website.

How can I appeal?

If you do not agree with the decision made by the Press Ombudsman, you can lodge an appeal with the Press Council of Ireland. You must appeal within 2 weeks of the decision.

The Press Ombudsman and Press Council have more information on complaining about the press.

Since 15 March 2023, Coimisiún na Meán has replaced the BAI as the media regulator for online safety, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting and video on-demand services. You have the right to complain if you have seen or heard something through these forms of media that does not meet the standards set out in legislation and/or codes of practice.

You are advised to complain to the broadcaster first.

You can read more on the Coimisiún na Meán website.

How do I complain to the company?

If you want to complain about material that you have seen or heard on an Irish broadcasting service, make a complaint directly with the broadcaster or on-demand service first.

Put your complaint in writing within 30 days of the broadcast. If you are complaining about 2 or more related broadcasts you must send your complaint within 30 days of the last programme. If you are complaining about 2 separate and unrelated broadcasts, you must complain within 30 days of the first broadcast.

If you are complaining about programme material on a video on-demand service, you must send your complaint within 30 days of the removal of the material from the service.

When writing your complaint, you should provide:

• Your name and contact details
• The name of the programme material
• The date and time of the broadcast and the channel it was broadcast on, or the date you accessed the material on a video on-demand service.
• Relevant broadcasting codes or legislation (or both)
• A short detailed summary of what caused offence

The broadcaster or video on-demand service must have their code of practice for complaint handling on their website. You should always check this before making a complaint.

The broadcaster should have a set timeframe for response (for example, 20 days).

If you do not receive a reply, or you are not happy with the reply, you can complain in writing to the Coimisiún na Meán.

Can I contact Coimisiún na Meán instead of the broadcaster?

You can make a complaint directly to the Coimisiún na Meán, without having to complain to the broadcaster first, if any of the following apply:

• The complaint is of a sensitive nature and/or relates to your privacy or the privacy of a person for whom you are responsible (for example, a child)
• There is a risk of harm if the material remains available
• The broadcaster or video on-demand service does not have a code of practice for complaint handling in place
• You provide an acceptable reason why the complaint should not be sent to the broadcaster first

If you make your complaint directly to Coimisiún na Meán, you should give your reasons for doing so in writing.

How do I complain to the Coimisiún na Meán ?

The complaints that Coimisiún na Meán investigate include:

• Impartiality in news and current affairs
• Material that causes harm or offence
• Law and order
• Where you believe your right to privacy has been breached
• Codes of standards and practice in relation to advertising, teleshopping, sponsorship, product placement and commercial promotion
• Accessibility services (subtitling, Irish Sign Language (ISL) and audio description)
• Video on-demand services showing material without the correct rights

You can find more detail on the standards that video on-demand services must meet in the Media Service Code and Media Service Rules Audiovisual On-demand Media Service Providers. Coimisiún na Meán also has more information on broadcasting codes and rules.

You cannot complain to Coimisiún na Meán about broadcasts received in Ireland but licensed in another country such as the United Kingdom. The media service must be regulated in Ireland. Coimisiún na Meán keep a list of broadcast services and a register of video on-demand services that it regulates.

If you believe that you have been defamed by a television, radio or on-demand video broadcast, you can get legal advice.

Coimisiún na Meán will not investigate complaints if legal action has begun.

Send your complaint within 14 days of the broadcaster’s decision or after a reasonable amount of time has passed and you have not received a response.

If you send your complaint to Coimisiún na Meán after the 14 day deadline, it may still consider the case (at its discretion) but you will have to give an explanation for the delay.

When assessing your complaint, Coimisiún na Meán can do one of the following:

1. Refer the complaint back to the broadcaster or service provider

You will receive a notification of this decision which will include a link to the broadcaster or on-demand service provider’s code of practice for complaint handling. Your complaint with Coimisiún na Meán will then be considered closed.

2. Dismiss the complaint

You will receive a notification of this decision which will include a statement of reasons for it. Your complaint with Coimisiún na Meán will then be considered closed.

3. Refer the complaint for investigation

Coimisiún na Meán will make a decision within 60 working days of receiving your complaint on whether the broadcaster has respected the relevant codes and legislation. You and the broadcaster will be sent a copy of the decision within 30 days after the decision is made.

The decision will be published on Coimisiún na Meán’s website and given to the media, unless the commission considers it inappropriate to do so. The publication will include details of the decision and will include the name of the broadcaster, the programme or advertisement complained about. It will not include your name or contact details.

Find out more about your right to complain about broadcasting and video on-demand services.