Controversies
The paper has faced criticism for attempting to transfer its traditional campaigns on topics such as the EU and immigration and asylum from the British market to Ireland. In Ireland, the EU and immigration were considered building blocks of Ireland's economic boom and as such did not raise the same furious reactions from readers as they do in Britain. It regularly covered the Lisbon Treaty debate, opposing acceptance of the treaty leading up to the referendum in June 2008.
The parent company Daily Mail in London also faced allegations back in 1997 of anti-Irish prejudice, and was reported to the Press Complaints Commission on these grounds by the non-governmental organisation the Pat Finucane Centre.
In April 2009, it was pointed out by popular British science blog The Lay Scientist that while the Irish Daily Mail were campaigning for the reintroduction of the HPV vaccine in Ireland, the Daily Mail in London were printing stories attacking the vaccine. The contradiction was condemned by many, including comedy writer Graham Linehan.
On 1 February 2011 it was announced that the Sunday Tribune had gone into receivership, with fresh investment being sought by McStay Luby. The following day it was announced that there would be no further edition of the newspaper for four weeks. The last issue appeared on 30 January 2011. On 6 February 2011, the edition of theIrish Mail on Sunday had a cover similar in style to the Tribune The Irish Mail on Sunday was subsequently sued. The fake Mail on Sunday featured a "wraparound" cover with a heading saying "a special edition designed for readers of the Sunday Tribune". The National Consumer Agency confirmed it was considering prosecuting the Irish Mail on Sunday for a breach of the Consumer Protection Act and the secretary of the National Union of Journalists, described the move by the as “crass and cynical” He added: “This was a cynical marketing exercise and represents a new low in Irish journalism. There can be no justification for the decision to reproduce the Sunday Tribune masthead instead of the Sunday Mail ’s own masthead.” The following July, the Mail paid "a six figure sum" to settle a legal action brought by the receiver for "passing off".
In July 2011, the newspaper refused to pass on the Government's VAT reduction to its readers. Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that businesses to which the new lower VAT rate applied would be "failing Ireland" if they did not pass on the reduction. Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain said: "I really think the Daily Mail's refusal to pass on the Government's VAT cut represents a real slap in the face to Irish consumers." It is estimated the Daily Mail will save approximately €750,000 as a result of this decision. The Phoenix Magazine noted however that the Daily Mail "with a cover price of €1, the Mail is one of the cheapest daily newspapers in the country and is 85c cheaper than the Indo (Irish Independent)". It also commented that Aodhan O Riordain's wife, Aine Kerr, was a former political correspondent with the Irish Independent, the papers main rival who "was more than happy to print the story".
Days later a damning report from Britain's Information Commissioner found that the Irish Daily Mail was involved in the illegal trade of obtaining personal information on driving licenses, criminal records, vehicle registration searches, reverse telephone traces and mobile-phone conversations.
Read more about this topic: Irish Daily Mail