Submit a complaint to us
You can refer your complaint to us where you made the complaint to the relevant broadcaster or video-on-demand provider in the first instance and:
- you believe the broadcaster’s/video-on-demand provider’s response did not satisfactorily address the alleged breach of standards in your complaint; or
- you did not receive a response from the broadcaster/video-on-demand provider within the timeframe for responding to complaints in the broadcaster/video-on-demand provider’s Code of Practice for Complaint Handling (generally 20 working days).
There may be circumstances in which you would prefer to make your complaint directly to us or where we consider there are reasons to take a complaint directly. This may be where:
- the complaint is of a sensitive nature and/or relates to the privacy of a complainant;
- there is deemed to be a risk of harm due to the ongoing availability of the content complained of; or
- the broadcaster or video-on-demand provider does not have a Code of Practice for Complaint Handling in place.
If you make your complaint directly to us, please provide your reasons in writing for doing so.
You are advised that we may later decide to refer your complaint to a broadcaster or video-on-demand provider to be handled under its Code of Practice for Complaint Handling.
How much time do I have to make a complaint to Coimisiún na Meán?
If referring your complaint to us having made your complaint to the relevant broadcaster or video-on-demand provider in the first instance, you have 14 days from the date you received the broadcaster’s/video-on-demand provider’s response or from the date a response was due if you didn’t receive one.
If you refer your complaint after the 14-day timeframe set out above, please provide your reasons for the delay. We will consider your reasons and may decide not to accept the complaint if we consider there has been an unreasonable delay in making the referral.
If you are making your complaint directly to us, your complaint must be in writing and submitted within the following timeframes:
- If the complaint relates to one broadcast, no later than 30 days of the date of the broadcast.
- If the complaint relates to two or more unrelated broadcasts, no later than 30 days of the date of the earliest of those broadcasts.
- If the complaint relates to two or more related broadcasts (of which at least 2 were made on different dates), no later than 30 days of the date of the latest of those broadcasts.
- If the complaint relates to programme material made available on a video-on-demand service, no later than 30 days of the date the programme material ceased to be available on that service.
What do I include in my complaint to Coimisiún na Meán?
Your complaint must be made in writing to us and must include your name, telephone number and email/postal address. You should generally include the following information, depending on the nature of the complaint:
Where a complaint relates to content standards in all programming, news and current affairs or commercial content:
- the title(s) of the programme material;
- the name of the broadcasting service or the video-on-demand service;
- the date(s) and time(s) on which the programme was broadcast by the broadcaster, or the date accessed from the video-on-demand provider;
- where possible, the statutory and/or regulatory standards you believe were not complied with;
- your reasons for believing the programme material did not comply with relevant standards; and
- if applicable, a copy of relevant correspondence between you and the broadcaster/video-on-demand provider.
Submit a complaint to Coimisiún na Meán?
Please fill in the online form below to submit your complaint.
Alternatively, you can post your complaint submission to:
Coimisiún na Meán,
1 Shelbourne Buildings,
Shelbourne Road,
Dublin 4,
DO4 NP20
If you require advice or assistance in making your complaint, you can contact us at: + 353 1 963 7755 or [email protected].