# Complaints

Last month

August 2023

THE MORNING LEAD

Public tell TDs 'enough is enough' as they say they won't renew TV licences amid RTÉ controversy

A report by

Stephen McDermott

Media Minister Catherine Martin has been contacted almost 100 times about TV licence since scandal broke in June.

40.0k

Aug 17th 2023, 12:05 AM

This year

2023

# Varadkar

Parents of children with learning disabilities slam Varadkar over 'slow learners' remark

One parent said Varadkar had allowed his hatred of Sinn Féin to cloud his judgment when he likened the party to ‘slow learners’ in a May interview.

33.7k

Jul 9th 2023, 1:27 PM

# Complaints

Aviation watchdog obtains €348,000 in refunds for passengers in 2022

1,253 complaints were made against Aer Lingus and 830 were made against Ryanair.

13.6k

Jul 8th 2023, 9:49 AM

# RSA

Driving instructor who said 'who's your daddy' 15 times to student among complaints to RSA

128 complaints were made by learner drivers about driving instructors last year, nearly seven times as many as the RSA received in 2021.

50.0k

Jun 6th 2023, 12:33 PM

# Press Ombudsman

Complaints about the media on the increase relating to recent protests

Readers distinguishing between comment and fact is an issue, says Susan McKay.

16.1k

Mar 30th 2023, 5:01 PM

# Food Safety

Live maggots in chicken and a false nail in chips: Complaints handled by FSAI increase by 19%

4,058 complaints from consumers were handled by the FSAI’s advice line last year.

34.4k

Mar 20th 2023, 12:01 PM

# Complaints

Dossier of concerns about treatment of service users of Mayo charity sent to health watchdog

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) said it has received ‘information of concern’ regarding Western Care.

A file compiled by Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh contains claims that staff have witnessed 'verbal and emotional abuse' of vulnerable service users.

The concerns focus on a section of Western Care called Individualised Services - which supports more than 50 service users in their own accommodation.

A report commissioned by the charity in 2020 found that the service was in 'significant crisis' with staff and management at risk of burnout.

18.8k

Feb 23rd 2023, 12:30 AM

Last year

2022

# Complaints

'Why do I pay my TV licence?': Viewers complain about 'awful' RTÉ Player

The State broadcaster said it has been “improving the reliability and resilience” of the service.

53.7k

Dec 25th 2022, 6:00 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

'Terrible forecasting' and overly cautious warnings: Complaints sent to Met Éireann in 2022

A report by

Hayley Halpin

Some people hit out at Met Éireann’s predictions, while others complained about its website.

Details of the complaints were released to The Journal under the Freedom of Information Act.

34.9k

Dec 25th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Complaints

The Sun apologises for Jeremy Clarkson column’s about Meghan Markle

A UK media regulator received more complaints about the column than it did in total in all of 2021.

26.2k

Dec 23rd 2022, 9:44 PM

# advertising authority

Ads for Ryanair, Woodies DIY and Randox Covid-19 testing among those breaching advert code

3 out of the 15 complaints were rejected

29.6k

Oct 13th 2022, 9:03 PM

# Joe Duffy

Broadcasting Authority dismisses magazine owner's complaints against Liveline

The owner of The Public Sector Magazine complained about claims made by callers on the popular show.

30.6k

Oct 5th 2022, 6:12 PM

# Irish Water

Irish Water criticised for failure to record complaints over poor drinking water quality

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities carried out the investigations.

10.3k

Oct 3rd 2022, 6:28 PM

# passport problems

'Spare me the apologies': Delays and missing birth certs among complaints about Passport Office

Details of people’s experiences after applying for a passport were released under FOI.

34.0k

Jul 27th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Delays

Over 110 complaints made to ambulance service last year, with almost half in Munster

A spokeswoman said the National Ambulance Service receives over 365,000 emergency calls a year.

7.8k

Jul 12th 2022, 2:59 PM

# Delays

Nearly fivefold increase in the number of complaints to the Passport Office this year

Complaints relate to the long delays as well as citizenship issues.

11.9k

Jun 30th 2022, 5:38 PM

# Ombudsman

Majority of complaints about Covid-19 news articles linked to anonymous Facebook group

More than 500 complaints in total were made last year – 200 of those related to coverage of the pandemic.

14.7k

Jun 21st 2022, 6:15 AM

# Complaints

1,599 complaints made against lawyers last year, according to legal services watchdog

Seventy-one of those complaints refer to alleged fraud.

16.6k

Jun 17th 2022, 9:52 PM

# Complaints

La Liga ramps up attack on PSG with Mbappe contract challenge

The Spanish league’s lawyer Juan Branco said they were prepared to go to the European Commission.

8.4k

Jun 17th 2022, 5:48 PM

# Complaints

Garda Commissioner admits officers failed to properly investigate child sex abuse case

Details of a specific complaint about the garda handling of the allegations were revealed in Gsoc’s annual report.

22.2k

May 19th 2022, 8:25 PM

# Wildlife Act

'Butchered and mutilated': How the government was alerted to out-of-season hedge-cutting last year

Hedge-cutting and burning is banned every year between 1 March and 31 August.

Activities of farmers, commercial tree-fellers and a GAA club were among the complaints submitted to the Government.

Hedge-cutting and burning is banned every year between 1 March and 31 August under the Wildlife Act.

Law aims to protect and maintain wildlife diversity by establishing areas where wildlife can thrive in spring and summer months.

48.8k

Mar 23rd 2022, 12:05 AM

# Nursing Homes

Nursing home complaints: 'Window visits not being permitted' and other Covid concerns

The allegations are contained in documents released to The Journal under the Freedom of Information Act.

The allegations are contained in documents released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act.

Dozens of complaints were made throughout the year regarding issues surrounding Covid-19.

Other complaints were made over issues such as abuse allegations, building standards and staffing issues.

31.2k

Jan 4th 2022, 12:05 AM

All time

# Met Éireann

'Inaccurate' app and 'obvious bias' for Dublin: Complaints sent to Met Éireann in 2021

Some people hit out at Met Éireann’s predictions, while others complained about its weather warnings.

Met Éireann received a large number of complaints regarding its general weather predictions.

The forecaster's rainfall radar was repeatedly criticised by users throughout 2020. This was the case again this year.

It's app and website also came in for criticism from numerous members of the public.

47.6k

Dec 26th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Complaints

'In the name of all that is divine': Viewers complain to RTÉ about 'frustrating' Player service

One viewer described the Player as “annoying, frustrating and useless”.

66.7k

Dec 25th 2021, 6:30 PM

# Dublin

Complaints from people staying in Dublin homeless hostels jump from 34 in 2020 to 122 in 2021

The complaints related to drug use in the facilities, alleged bullying and blood stains on bed sheets.

The complaints related to drug use, alleged bullying and conditions in the facilities, Órla Ryan reports

A number of people reported being harassed or attacked by other residents

One person said the bed covers in their hostel were "covered in blood"

23.2k

Dec 11th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Complaints

Portobello Plaza will no longer be closed off at weekends

Documents show local residents had complained to the council about issues including “public urination, defecation, open selling and use of drugs”.

16.4k

Jun 8th 2021, 5:49 PM

# Mental Health

Loophole means 'voluntary' mental health patients have diminished right to appeal detention

It’s been almost six years since reforms of the Ireland’s mental health laws were recommended.

13.8k

Apr 20th 2021, 6:00 AM

# Complaints

Ombudsman ordered bank to reimburse money to child's account after father withdrew €66,000

The financial services ombudsman has released his decisions from the second half of last year.

82.3k

Feb 3rd 2021, 6:15 AM

# Complaints

RTÉ received 27 formal complaints after contributor to US inauguration coverage called Joe Biden a 'criminal'

The broadcaster also received over 90 emails and a number of phone calls with “negative feedback” over the broadcast.

79.2k

Jan 21st 2021, 7:01 PM

# Allegations

Nursing home complaints during Covid: Concerns over isolation and lack of social distancing

The allegations are contained in documents released to TheJournal.ie under the Freedom of Information Act.

30.5k

Jan 2nd 2021, 12:05 AM

# Streaming

RTÉ says it's striving to improve Player amid complaints about 'frustrating' and 'ridiculous' service

“To say this is frustrating would be a gross understatement,” one viewer wrote.

67.3k

Dec 25th 2020, 5:00 PM

# year in weather

'Ridiculous' forecasting and 'offensive' lack of Northern Irish coverage: The complaints sent to Met Éireann in 2020

Some people complained about Met Éireann’s predictions while others took issue with the website.

47.2k

Dec 24th 2020, 12:05 AM

# Children's Rights

Children with disabilities waiting years for assessment a violation of their rights, committee to be told

Over 6,000 children are currently overdue an assessment of their needs.

9.4k

Dec 1st 2020, 6:15 AM

# Complaints

Eir CEO says it was a 'mistake' to locate customer care centre in Sligo

Carolan Lennon has since clarified her remarks and said Eir is “committed to Sligo”.

119k

162

Updated

Nov 25th 2020, 6:36 PM

# legal argument

Over 600 complaints made against barristers and solicitors in six-month period

Over 340 related to alleged misconduct.

32.6k

Oct 5th 2020, 2:29 PM

# Bai

Broadcasting regulator rejects 12 complaints made against RTÉ and Newstalk since December

The rulings by the BAI were released today.

26.2k

Jul 29th 2020, 5:12 PM

# Complaints

Gsoc has received 169 complaints from the public over Covid policing measures

Gardaí have used the new Covid powers over 300 times since March.

26.2k

Updated

Jun 9th 2020, 7:46 PM

# Not happy

Over 50 viewers contact RTÉ over 'disappointment and unhappiness' with Normal People

Rights to the show have been purchased in countries including Australia, Canada, and Japan.

90.3k

May 21st 2020, 7:00 AM

# Annual Report

Complaint to Ombudsman after social housing tenant deemed to have sent 'insulting' tweet about neighbour

The Ombudsman received more than 3,600 complaints about public services last year.

26.7k

May 20th 2020, 12:10 PM

# TV

RTÉ received 37 informal complaints about first two episodes of Normal People

The episodes were broadcast last Tuesday night on RTÉ 1.

93.5k

132

May 1st 2020, 5:43 PM