Complaints Procedure
DUBLIN SOUTH FM COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
Dublin South FM recognises the rights of Members of the Community to complain to the station about allegations of non-compliance with both its licence obligations and the requirements outlined in broadcast legislation.Dublin South FM undertakes to resolve complaints where possible through dialogue with the complainant. However, where a complainant is not satisfied, they shall be advised of their right to lodge a formal complaint.
Formal complaints may be made if a Member of the Community is of the opinion that Dublin South FM has breached one of its obligations under the Broadcasting Act 2009 and the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. These obligations are:
● To ensure that all news programming is objective and impartial.
● To ensure that current affairs programming is objective and impartial and that the subject matter and all interests concerned are treated fairly. Fairness, objectivity and impartiality may be achieved over a number of related broadcasts.
● To ensure that our programming does not contain content which may be reasonably considered as causing harm or offence, tending to promote or incite crime, undermining the authority of the State, or tending to unreasonably encroach upon the privacy of an individual. Programming shall also be in compliance with applicable programming codes.
● All commercial communications broadcast by us shall be in compliance with applicable commercial communications codes.
● Advertisements shall comply with the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements governing broadcasting.
These obligations shall apply to Dublin South FM’s broadcasting, its online streaming service and, where applicable, podcasting services provided by Dublin South FM.
Formal Complaints
All complaints must be lodged formally in writing to the Station Manager.Complaints may be submitted through the Dublin South FM Contact page: https://dublinsouthfm.ie/contact/
or by email to:
or by post to:
Dublin South FM
Level 5,
Dundrum Town Centre,
Dundrum, D16 X4K7
Dublin,
Ireland.
Time Period for Making a Complaint
Formal complaints must be made within the following time periods:
(a) if your complaint relates to one broadcast, 30 days after the date of that broadcast;
(b) if your complaint relates to two or more unrelated broadcasts; 30 days after the date of the earlier or earliest of those broadcasts;
(c) if your complaint relates to two or more related broadcasts of which at least two are made on different dates; 30 days after the date of the later or latest of those broadcasts;
(d) if the complaint refers to a podcast or other programme material made available online: 30 days after the broadcast or programme material is no longer available online.
Complaints submitted outside of these time periods may not be considered. Formal complaints
must be lodged in writing by one of the methods outlined above.
Information Required
Complaints must provide specific contact details and be substantive. Details should include the category of complaint, date and time of broadcast, name of programme, news item or commercial communication which is the subject of your complaint.
Dublin South FM will not entertain frivolous, vexatious or anonymous complaints.
Dublin South FM is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of individuals in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
If for reason of disability or other good reason you cannot submit a complaint in writing, please contact the Station Manager at 01 296 0939, who will assist you to do so.
A written response to the formal complaint will be provided by email or post within 20 working days of receipt. In the event that this time-frame cannot be complied with, the reasons for the delay and an expected response time will be communicated in writing.
In some cases further information may be requested, or a meeting arranged to discuss the complaint, prior to a written response being provided.
Appeal
If the Complainant is unsatisfied with how the complaint has been handled or they are unsatisfied with the solution provided by the Station Manager, they may lodge an appeal within 20 working days by email or post addressed to the Chairperson of the Board of Dublin South FM.
The appeal will be acknowledged by email, post or telephone within 7 days of receipt and a written response will be provided by email or post within 20 working days of receipt.
Referral to Coimisiún na Meán
Complainants shall be advised of their right to refer the complaint to Coimisiún na Meán once they have received a written response from the Station Manager or if they have not received a reply within 20 working days of the initial confirmation of the complaint.
Complainants have 14 days at this point to refer the complaint to Coimisiún na Meán.
Further information on making a complaint to Coimisiún na Meán is available through its complaints process.
Coimisiún na Meán
1 Shelbourne Buildings
Shelbourne Road
Dublin 4
D04 NP20
Ireland
Telephone: (01) 963 7755
Further information concerning Coimisiún na Meán’s role in broadcast regulation can be found on its website.
Record Keeping
Dublin South FM will maintain a record of all complaints and all material relating to a complaint for 2 years from the date of the initial complaint.