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On 10 September 2013 the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) released recent broadcasting complaints decisions. A total of seven complaints were considered in the period. At its meeting held in July 2013, the Compliance Committee upheld one complaint (in part) and rejected three. A further three complaints were resolved by the Executive Complaint Forum at meetings held in July and August 2013. Under section 48 of the Broadcasting Act 2009, viewers and listeners can complain about broadcasting content which they believe is not in keeping with broadcasting codes and rules. All seven of the complaints...

On 12 June 2013 the Irish High Court granted an injunction requiring six Internet service providers (UPC, Vodafone, Imagine, Digiweb, Hutchinson 3G and Telefonica) to block the website known as The Pirate Bay. This is the first time an injunction has been granted under the controversial copyright injunction law that was introduced in February 2012 (see IRIS 2012-4/31). The Pirate Bay is already blocked by another Internet service provider (ISP), Eircom, without a court order. Four music companies (EMI, Sony, Warner and Universal), sought the order from the court. The ISPs did not oppose the application...

On 8 August 2013, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) published BAI Guidelines in Respect of Coverage of Referenda (Guidelines). The Guidelines set out rules with which all Irish broadcasters must comply when covering the forthcoming referenda, on the abolition of Seanad Éireann (upper house of Parliament) and the creation of a new court of appeal. Both referenda are scheduled to take place on 4 October 2013. Rule 27 of the BAI Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs provides that broadcasters must comply with Guidelines and codes of practice on election...

On 18 July 2013, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) published its review of funding for the public service broadcasters, RTÉ and TG4, for the next five year period. As part of the review, the BAI made recommendations relating to the future levels and use of public funding including the processes required to ensure funding is adequately and appropriately accounted for. The BAI is required under section 124(8) of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to carry out a review of the adequacy, or otherwise, of public funding to enable public service broadcasters to meet their public service objectives. Such...

On 4 June 2013 the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) published revised versions of its General and Children’s Commercial Communications Codes. The Codes deal with advertising, sponsorship, product placement and other forms of commercial promotion. The revisions deal, in particular, with the approach to be taken to products that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS). The Codes apply to all radio and television broadcasters regulated in the Republic of Ireland. The BAI is required under section 42 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 to develop advertising codes to protect the general public health...