Coimisiún na Meán

Author: Maeve Heslin

Survey results show high demand for more Irish language content

Posted on by Maeve Heslin

Approximately nine out of ten people living in the Gaeltacht, and two thirds of those outside the Gaeltacht, would like to see more Irish language content on their TV screens. One in 5 find it easy to find content they enjoy in the Irish language on Irish media.

Coimisiún na Meán has today (17th December) published the results of an Irish Language in Media Survey. The survey was conducted to inform a wider Review, currently underway, of the provision of Irish language services and content across media. One in five respondents said they found it easy to find content they enjoy in the Irish language on Irish media.

When asked what types of content they would like to see or hear more of in the Irish language, three-quarters (75%) of Gaeltacht audiences wished for more documentary programming, while 69% of the audience nationally are hoping for more music programming. Additionally 95% of Gaeltacht audiences watch TG4 with 89% engaging weekly.

Conducted between June and July 2024, the survey sought the perspectives of approximately 1,200 people from national and Gaeltacht audiences, aged 18+, and examined public engagement, preferences, and perceptions regarding the relevance and effectiveness of Irish language media including television, radio, print media, and online media.

Media Development Commissioner for Coimisiún na Meán, Rónán Ó Domhnaill said: “The results of this survey show the high demand for more Irish language content on all media platforms in Ireland.  The results suggest that while there is a large amount of good will towards the Irish language more needs to be done across the media landscape to support speakers of Irish and those who wish to learn the language. Coimisiún na Meán is dedicated to the development of a media landscape that is sustainable, pluralistic and participative, and that reflects and shapes who we are as society. This Irish Language in Media Survey, which is one part of our Review of the Irish language media landscape, provides important context for the types of programming audiences wish to see and hear more of.’’

The survey also reveals a significant demand for Irish language arts and cultural programming (supported by 61% of national audiences and 65% of Gaeltacht audiences) and Irish language news reporting (supported by 57% of national audiences and 70% of Gaeltacht audiences).

Since Coimisiún na Meán was established in March 2023, approximately €11.9 million has been provided under the Sound & Vision scheme to support Irish language or bilingual programming. Earlier this year, An Coimisiún launched new journalism schemes, including a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and a Courts Reporting Scheme, to offer direct support to promote high-quality and trusted journalism for local communities. Funding of up to €1.5 million is available through the Schemes for Irish language reporting.

This Irish Language in Media Survey will inform the wider Review, currently underway, of Irish language media services and content and will be used for further engagement with stakeholders and audiences to explore how all forms of media can contribute to a thriving Irish language media landscape.

Additional determination made under Terrorist Content Online Regulation (TCOR)

Posted on by Maeve Heslin

An Coimisiún determines that Meta (in respect of Facebook) services are ‘exposed to terrorist content’ 

An Coimisiún decision follows the notification of two or more final removal orders to this provider from EU competent authorities in the last 12 months 

The provider will now have to take specific measures to prevent services from being used for the dissemination of terrorist content and to report on the measures they have taken 

Coimisiún na Meán has today (16.12.24) published a decision in respect of a hosting service provider under the Terrorist Content Online Regulation. Coimisiún na Meán has determined that Meta (in respect of Facebook) services are ‘exposed to terrorist content.’  

Terrorist content is defined in EU law as material that: 

  • incites the commission of terrorist offences, such as by the glorification of terrorist acts; 
  • advocates the commission of terrorist offences; 
  • solicits a person or a group of persons to commit or contribute to the commission of terrorist offences;  
  • incites, solicits, threatens or provides instruction on the commission of terrorist offences; 
  • solicits a person or a group of persons to participate in the activities of a terrorist group; 
  • provides instruction on the making or use of explosives, firearms, or other weapons, or noxious or hazardous substances, or other specific methods or techniques for the purpose of committing or contributing to the commission of terrorist offences; 
  • constitutes a threat to commit a terrorist offence  

The Terrorist Content Online Regulation, which is one part of Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Framework, provides an EU-wide mechanism for counteracting the dissemination of terrorist content online and enabling the speedy removal of terrorist content by hosting service providers.  

Under the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, hosting service providers which receive two or more final removal orders from EU competent authorities within the last 12 months may be determined as being exposed to terrorist content. An Coimisiún has reached this decision following the notification of two or more final removal orders in respect of this providers and following engagement with this provider. An Coimisiún has made this determination in line with its Decision Framework, published in June 2024. 

Following this decision, Meta (in respect of Facebook) will be obliged to take specific measures to protect their services from being used for the dissemination of terrorist content, and to report to Coimisiún na Meán on the specific measures taken within three months from the receipt of the decision. These measures shall be effective, targeted and proportionate and respectful of the fundamental rights of users. Among the measures a hosting service provider exposed to terrorist content is required to take is the inclusion in its terms and conditions of provisions to address the misuse of its service for the dissemination to the public of terrorist content.  

Coimisiún na Meán will supervise and assess the mitigation actions taken by the provider. Where An Coimisiún considers that the specific measures taken do not comply with legislative requirements, An Coimisiún will address a decision to the hosting service provider requiring it to take the necessary measures so as to ensure that legislative provisions are complied with. 

In November 2024, An Coimisiún determined that TikTok, X and Meta (in respect of Instagram) services were ‘exposed to terrorist content’ under the Terrorist Content Online Regulation. 

 
An infringement by hosting service providers of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation can lead to the imposition of administrative fines, including financial penalties of up to four percent of global turnover. 

Coimisiún na Meán’s Online Safety Framework consists of the Terrorist Content Online Regulation, the Digital Services Act, and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act, the basis for our Online Safety Code. 

An Coimisiún advises users of online services who see suspected terrorist content to report that content to the platform where they have seen it, and to report any content which could be a threat to life to An Garda Síochána.  

Coimisiún na Meán removes traditional broadcast moratorium for election coverage

Posted on by Maeve Heslin

Updated Guidance replaces Moratorium with an Additional Care Requirement for broadcasters during the Critical Election Period

Coimisiún na Meán has today announced the replacement of the Broadcast Moratorium, which has been in place since 1997, with an Additional Care Requirement for broadcasters during the Critical Election Period (the 24-hour period before the opening of polling stations and during the period when polling occurs). This decision follows a review of the Moratorium conducted by Coimisiún na Meán which commenced in February this year. This review included an examination of electoral silence periods in other countries, a survey of attitudes conducted with Ipsos B&A and a public consultation.


The new Additional Care Requirement, which replaces the Broadcast Moratorium, requires broadcasters to show additional care during the Critical Election Period. During the Critical Election Period, broadcasters should treat with extreme care information relating to the election that it believes, or has reason to believe, has been circulated with the intention of misleading or confusing voters or that is likely to mislead or confuse voters. The implementation of this additional care requirement is at the editorial discretion of the broadcaster. This may include the Broadcasters rebutting or correcting misconceptions arising from misleading information.


Speaking about the publication of the Guidelines, Coimisiún na Meán’s Broadcasting and Video-on-Demand Commissioner Aoife MacEvilly said: “A media landscape that supports democracy and democratic values, underpins civic discourse and reduces the impact of disinformation is a priority for Coimisiún na Meán. During election periods, broadcasters across Ireland play a crucial role in informing the public about the issues and candidates involved in the election campaign.


The annual Reuters Digital News Report, which was published in June and is funded by Coimisiún na Meán, found that trust in news remains high in Ireland compared to other countries. We recognise the trust that Irish viewers and listeners place in broadcasters and our approach to the moratorium reflects Ireland’s changing media landscape.


Elections and electoral integrity are a key focus for us at Coimisiún na Meán this year. Alongside this new additional care approach for broadcasters, once the date of an election is confirmed, we will be publishing information for electoral candidates on our role in relation to broadcasting and online safety regulation, and how we can help them, alongside our guidelines for broadcasters. We will also engage with online platforms on their preparations for the elections, to ensure that they play their part in upholding electoral integrity and ensuring that people across Ireland can make free, fair and informed choices about where to cast their vote.’’


Broadcasters should also take additional care to ensure that opinions expressed by programme contributors do not interfere with the electoral process by making a false or misleading claim with respect to election procedures. Broadcasters are also asked not to report on opinion polls or exit polls during polling hours.


The new approach will be reflected in Coimisiún na Meán’s Guidelines in Respect of Broadcast Coverage of Elections, which will be published shortly after the date of the next election is announced. The Guidelines provide direction and advice to broadcasters as to how fairness, objectivity and impartiality can be achieved in their coverage of elections.

Coimisiún na Meán certifies the first Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement Body in Ireland

Posted on by Maeve Heslin

Coimisiún na Meán, has today 08.10.2024 published details of the certification of Appeals Centre Europe (ACE) as an Out-of-Court Dispute Settlement (ODS) Body. Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), bodies which are established in Ireland may apply to us for certification as an ODS Body.

An ODS body can help online users resolve disputes relating to decisions of online platforms, including complaints that have not been resolved by means of the internal complaint-handling system of an online platform. The decisions of ODS bodies are not binding.

ACE, a company registered in Ireland, have been granted certification for a period of five years, from 26 September 2024 to 26 September 2029. The area of expertise for which the certification is granted is the application and enforcement of terms and conditions of online platforms.

To be certified as an ODS body an applicant must satisfy the following conditions as set out in Article 21 of the DSA.

  • Impartiality and independence, including financially independence, in relation to providers of online platforms and recipients of the service.
  • Expertise in relation to areas of illegal content, or in relation to the application and enforcement of terms and conditions of online platforms.
  • Remuneration, which requires that ODS body members are remunerated in a way that is not linked to the outcome of the procedure.
  • Accessibility, which requires that the ODS settlement is easily accessible, through electronic communications technology and provides for the possibility to initiate the dispute settlement and to submit the requisite supporting documents online.
  • Swift and efficient dispute settlement, which requires that the ODS body can settle disputes in a swift, efficient, and cost-effective manner and in at least one of the official languages of the institutions of the Union.
  • Clear and fair rules, which requires that the ODS settlement takes place in accordance with clear and fair rules of procedure that are easily and publicly accessible.

Further information on the ODS Body certification process, including a guidance document and application form, can be found on our industry guidance page.

Coimisiún na Meán seeks views on future of broadcast moratorium for elections and referendums

Posted on by Maeve Heslin

Public consultation sets out possible options for future of moratorium

Coimisiún na Meán has today (07.08.24) opened a public consultation on the future of the broadcast moratorium. The moratorium currently prohibits discussion of election or referendum issues on broadcast media from 2pm on the day preceding the election or referendum until the polls close on voting day.

The moratorium does not apply to other types of media, such as print or online, and the legislation does not allow for these types of media to be included in any moratorium.

Coimisiún na Meán is putting forward five main options for consideration:

  1. Keeping the moratorium as it is
  2. Amending the duration of the moratorium
  3. Changing the types of broadcast coverage included under the moratorium
  4. Reframing the obligation on broadcasters as a positive obligation to exercise particular care on issues related to elections or referendums
  5. Abolishing the moratorium entirely.

This public consultation is part of Coimisiún na Meán’s on-going review of the broadcast moratorium, which has included engagement with broadcasters and political parties, as well as public opinion research. An Coimisiún intends to conclude the review, including making any changes required to the moratorium, by the end of October 2024.

The moratorium was first included in broadcasting guidelines for the 1997 Presidential Election, a time when TV and radio were the main sources of news. Its original purposes were to allow voters a period of reflection before casting their votes, and to guard against voters being presented with new information or misinformation at the last minute when it was too late for it to be properly evaluated or discussed. With the growth in usage of online sources of news, there needs to be a re-evaluation of whether the moratorium is useful.

Coimisiún na Meán Broadcasting and Video-On-Demand Commissioner, Aoife MacEvilly, said: “Now is the right time to consider if changes are needed to the broadcasting moratorium for coverage of referendums and elections. Wherever people find their news, it is important that they can find relevant, informed, and impartial reporting that they trust. We know that more and more people are going online for their news, whether that’s to a news website or to social media, but, broadcasters are still an important source of news about elections for many people.

We are looking forward to hearing the public’s views on the moratorium and we intend to make a decision on continuing, changing or removing the moratorium by the end of October”.

The public consultation is now open. The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 4 September 2024.