Complaints

Spirit Radio

Code of Practice for Complaints Handling

Introduction

We aim to deliver the best possible service to our listeners. We aim to ensure that our programming is compliant with the various requirements set out in the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 and broadcasting codes published by Coimisiun na Mean.

We welcome and will engage with all feedback, both negative and positive, from our listeners concerning any aspect of our service.

We are obliged under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to have in place a Code of Practice for handling complaints from our listeners. This Code of Practice sets out and explains our complaint process for listeners and ensures that we deal with complaints in an effective and efficient manner. It should be noted that the Code of Practice only relates to certain categories of complaints as detailed below.

  1. What can I complain about?

You may submit a complaint to us if you are of the opinion that a broadcast or part of a broadcast on our service has breached one or more of the following obligations:

    • Harm, offence, incitement, and authority of State (section 46J) 
    • Privacy (section 46K)
    • News and Current Affairs (section 46L)

We will ensure that our news and current affairs programming:

        • Does not undermine the authority of the State
        • Does not unreasonably encroach upon the privacy of an individual
        • Is objective and impartial without any expression of our own views; and 
        • Treats the subject matter and all interests concerned fairly.
        • If we cannot achieve fairness, objectivity and impartiality in one current affairs programme, we will do so in related broadcasts that will be broadcast within a reasonable period of each other.
    • Advertising (sections 46M(2) or (3), 106(3) and 127(6))
    • Retention of copies of programme material (section 46P(1) or (2))
    • Media service codes and rules
    • General Programming
        • We also will ensure our general programming is in compliance with the BAI Code of Programme Standards. 

If you have a complaint that does not fall under the categories set out above, we would invite you to avail of our feedback/complaints facility by emailing [email protected]

If your complaint concerns alleged defamation, you should refer to the Right of Reply Scheme.

 

2. How do I make a complaint?

You can contact us and make your complaint by telephone, letter or email: [email protected].  A member of our staff will contact you to discuss your concerns and attempt to resolve the matter. If we cannot resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, and you are satisfied that your complaint is covered by this Code of Practice, you should submit the following details in writing (letter or email):

      • your name and address;
      • the category of complaint; (please refer to the categories of complaints in ‘What I can complain about?’ above)
      • the date and time of broadcast;
      • the name of the programme, news item or advertisement/commercial communication that you have heard and which is the subject of your complaint;
      • detail exactly what, in the broadcast, concerned you;

In order for your complaint to be considered, it must include the above details and must refer to a programme, advertisement or other form of commercial communication already broadcast on our service. 

If, by reason of disability or other good reason, you are unable to submit the complaint in writing, please contact us and we will assist you to do so.

Spirit Radio is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018.

We will not accept complaints which we deem to be of a frivolous or vexatious nature.

 

3. How soon should I make my complaint after the broadcast?

The Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 requires you to make your complaint not more than 30 days after the date of broadcast:

 

4. Where should I send my complaint?

You should submit your complaint by email to [email protected]

Or by mail to the Chief Executive, Spirit Radio, Killarney Road, Bray, Co Wicklow A98R6F6 

 

5. What will happen to my complaint?

Once we have accepted your complaint we will work to resolve the issue/s as soon as possible. Your complaint will be carefully considered, investigated if necessary, and responded to in writing by a senior member of our management team.

• We will write to you to acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 7 working days.

• We will consider the issues raised in your complaint.

• We will listen/watch the programme/broadcast item identified in your complaint.

• Where appropriate, we will consult with any party to which your complaint relates, for

example, the advertiser, the presenter or programme maker, to give that party an

opportunity to provide observations and comments in relation to the issues raised by you.

• We will provide a response to your complaint which will, as far as possible, address all of the issues/concerns you have raised. We will set out the reasons for our decision on your complaint.

This response will be sent to you within 20 working days from receipt of your complaint.

 

6. What are the potential outcomes for my complaint?

We may uphold or reject a complaint. Upholding a complaint means that we believe that our programming did not comply with our obligations covered by this Code of Practice. Rejecting a complaint means we believe that our programming was in compliance with our obligations.

If we uphold your complaint, we will seek to resolve it to your satisfaction in an agreed manner. The manner of resolution will be decided on a case by case basis but may include an apology, correction, clarification and/or the offer of a rebuttal.

 

7. The role of Coimisiún na Meán

If we have not responded to your complaint within 20 working days or if you are not satisfied with our response, you can refer your complaint within a further 14 days to Coimisiún na Meán (CnaM). CnaM will consider the complaint and may carry out an independent review of the complaint and our response.

Information on how to refer a complaint to CnaM is available on the CnaM website at www.cnam.ie or from the following address:

Coimisiun na Mean, 2 – 5 Warrington Place, Dublin 2, D02 XP29 Phone: (01) 6441200, E-mail: [email protected]

 

8. Record of Complaints

We are required under the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 to keep a record of all complaints submitted in accordance with this Code of Practice for two years. We are also obliged to provide these records to CnaM if so directed.

Our records will include copies of your complaint, our response/s and the audio copies of the broadcast material.

Contact Us With Your Complaint

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