Revision as of 22:33, 4 February 2014 editTheRedPenOfDoom (talk | contribs)Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers135,756 edits Undid revision 593957736 by 86.42.19.219 (talk) WP:UNDUE if the Senate does something with regard to the hush up payout by RTE, then maybe a short comment could be included← Previous edit | Revision as of 09:29, 6 February 2014 edit undoTbrambo (talk | contribs)209 edits Added homophobia accusations sections, as this is an important event of public discourse.Next edit → | ||
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O'Brien supported the right to Muslim women to wear the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/0531/1212156441179.html|title=It is better to avoid making hijab a major issue|last=O'Brien|first=Breda|date=31 May 2008|location = Dublin|work=The Irish Times |date=5 May 2008|publisher=]|accessdate=7 May 2009}}</ref> | O'Brien supported the right to Muslim women to wear the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/0531/1212156441179.html|title=It is better to avoid making hijab a major issue|last=O'Brien|first=Breda|date=31 May 2008|location = Dublin|work=The Irish Times |date=5 May 2008|publisher=]|accessdate=7 May 2009}}</ref> | ||
== Homophobia accusations == | |||
On 11 January 2014, O'Brien was mentioned by Irish ] ] on ]'s ] with ] while discussing ]. Panti (Rory O'Neill) alleged that some individuals involved in Irish journalism, ] and ], as well as the conservative lobby group ] were homophobic. O'Brien, in-turn, threatened RTÉ and O'Neill with legal action.<ref name="irishcentral-Jan19">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/cahirodoherty/Columnist-John-Waters-in-a-Panti-twist-over-anti-gay-claims.html|title=Columnist John Waters in a Panti twist over anti-gay claims|author=Cahir O'Doherty|date=19 January 2014|url=http://www.irishcentral.com/opinion/cahirodoherty/Columnist-John-Waters-in-a-Panti-twist-over-anti-gay-claims.html|accessdate=1 February 2014 }}</ref> RTÉ subsequently removed that section of the interview from their online archive.<ref>{{cite web|title=RTE cuts part of show after legal complaint from Waters|author=Brian Byrne|date=16 January 2014|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/rte-cuts-part-of-show-after-legal-complaint-from-waters-29921034.html|work=]|accessdate=1 February 2014 }}</ref> | |||
On 25 January episode of the Saturday Night Show, O'Connor issued a public apology to O'Brien on behalf of RTÉ for being mentioned in the interview held two weeks previously.<ref> retrieved 26 January 2014</ref> This was viewed as a controversial move of censorship by many, and drew 2000 people to protest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0202/501798-lbgt-protest/|work=RTÉ.ie|title=Over 2000 attend protest over "silencing" of homophobia debate|date=6 February 2014}}</ref> RTÉ received hundreds of complaints about the issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/panti-rte-complaints-1291017-Jan2014/|work=The Journal|title=RTÉ receive 847 complaints about Panti|date=6 February 2014}}</ref> RTÉ paid monies to O'Brien,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rte-paid-out-85000-in-homophobe-row-29971734.html|title=RTE paid out €85,000 in 'homophobe' row|work=Irish Independent|date=2 February 2014}}</ref> which was later discussed by members of ].<ref> retrieved 30 January 2014</ref><ref> retrieved 30 January 2014</ref><ref> retrieved 30 January 2014</ref><ref> retrieved 31 January 2014</ref> It was also discussed in the European Parliament.<ref> European Parliament retrieved 4 February 2014.</ref> | |||
On 1 February 2014, Panti gave a speech at the ] in response to the events surrounding the RTÉ controversy, which drew international attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXayhUzWnl0&feature=youtu.be|work=Youtube Video|title=Panti's noble call at the Abbey Theatre|date=6 February 2014}}</ref><ref> MSNBC retrieved 4 February 2014.</ref><ref> Huffington Post retrieved 4 February 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/society/activism/2014/02/04/watch-irish-drag-queens-powerful-takedown-homophobia|work=The Advocate|title=WATCH: Irish drag queen powerful takedown of homophobia|date=6 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
RTÉ's head of television defended the €85,000 payout and blamed the decision mostly on Ireland's ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/rte-blames-irish-defamation-laws-over-€85000-homophobia-row-payout-irish-times-journalist-and-iona|work=Press Gazette|title=RTÉ blames Irish defamation laws over €85,000 payout|date=6 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/taoiseach-dismisses-call-to-make-rt%C3%A9-answerable-to-the-d%C3%A1il-1.1680214|work=The Irish Times|title=Taoiseach dismisses call to make RTÉ answerable to the Dáil|date=5 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== |
Revision as of 09:29, 6 February 2014
Breda O'Brien (born in 1962) is an Irish teacher, journalist and pro-life feminist. She founded Feminists for Life of Ireland in 1992 and is a leader in the Irish pro-life movement. She writes a column for The Irish Times.
Early life and education
Born in Dungarvan, County Waterford, O'Brien was educated at the Convent of Mercy, Dungarvan and later at the Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin. In 1987 she was awarded a diploma in audio visual production from the Crex Avex, Lyon, France. In 1988, she was awarded a diploma in video production from Lumen Video Production School, Dallas, Texas.
Later life
O'Brien taught at Muckross Park College, a public Catholic girls' school, between 1983 and 1987. She later returned to this post in 1992, and has remained there since. She has worked as a video producer and communications trainer in the Catholic Communications Centre (founded by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference), Booterstown, Dublin from 1988 to 1991. She worked as a researcher for RTE from 1991 to 1992. Her career as a columnist began with The Sunday Business Post from 1997 to 2000 and continued with The Irish Times.
O'Brien is a patron of the Iona Institute, a conservative Irish think tank, and appears regularly in the Irish media as a contributor, supporting the teachings of the Catholic Church.
O'Brien supported the right to Muslim women to wear the hijab in Ireland.
Homophobia accusations
On 11 January 2014, O'Brien was mentioned by Irish drag queen Panti on RTÉ's The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor while discussing homophobia. Panti (Rory O'Neill) alleged that some individuals involved in Irish journalism, John Waters and Breda O'Brien, as well as the conservative lobby group The Iona Institute were homophobic. O'Brien, in-turn, threatened RTÉ and O'Neill with legal action. RTÉ subsequently removed that section of the interview from their online archive.
On 25 January episode of the Saturday Night Show, O'Connor issued a public apology to O'Brien on behalf of RTÉ for being mentioned in the interview held two weeks previously. This was viewed as a controversial move of censorship by many, and drew 2000 people to protest. RTÉ received hundreds of complaints about the issue. RTÉ paid monies to O'Brien, which was later discussed by members of Oireachtas. It was also discussed in the European Parliament.
On 1 February 2014, Panti gave a speech at the Abbey Theatre in response to the events surrounding the RTÉ controversy, which drew international attention.
RTÉ's head of television defended the €85,000 payout and blamed the decision mostly on Ireland's Anti-Defamation Laws.
See also
References
- ^ Bourke, Angela, ed. (2002). The Field Day Anthology of Irish Writing: Irish Women's Writing and Traditions, Volume 5. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814799079.
- Personnel And Patrons, the Iona Institute, retrieved 10 April 2009
- O'Brien, Breda (5 May 2008). "It is better to avoid making hijab a major issue". The Irish Times. Dublin: The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
- Cahir O'Doherty (19 January 2014). "Columnist John Waters in a Panti twist over anti-gay claims". Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- Brian Byrne (16 January 2014). "RTE cuts part of show after legal complaint from Waters". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- The Journal retrieved 26 January 2014
- "Over 2000 attend protest over "silencing" of homophobia debate". RTÉ.ie. 6 February 2014.
- "RTÉ receive 847 complaints about Panti". The Journal. 6 February 2014.
- "RTE paid out €85,000 in 'homophobe' row". Irish Independent. 2 February 2014.
- The Journal retrieved 30 January 2014
- Youtube retrieved 30 January 2014
- The Journal retrieved 30 January 2014
- Clare Daly TD retrieved 31 January 2014
- European Parliament retrieved 4 February 2014.
- "Panti's noble call at the Abbey Theatre". Youtube Video. 6 February 2014.
- MSNBC retrieved 4 February 2014.
- Huffington Post retrieved 4 February 2014.
- "WATCH: Irish drag queen powerful takedown of homophobia". The Advocate. 6 February 2014.
- "RTÉ blames Irish defamation laws over €85,000 payout". Press Gazette. 6 February 2014.
- "Taoiseach dismisses call to make RTÉ answerable to the Dáil". The Irish Times. 5 February 2014.