RTÉ HAS SAID it is ‘disappointed’ with Dublin Pride’s decision to end their media partnership over coverage about trans people on the Liveline programme in recent days.

Yesterday Dublin Pride announced it had terminated the media partnership over what it described as “unacceptable and extremely harmful” coverage on the programme.

It called on the national broadcaster to make a statement about how it will “make amends” following discussions about the community on Joe Duffy’s Liveline programme in recent days.

A spokesperson for RTÉ told The Journal that it received four formal complaints over the programme in question since it aired. 

It also received 48 emails, of which 21 were negative, and nine calls, of which seven were negative. 

In the last few hours, the Oireachtas Media and Culture Committee agreed to invite RTÉ to appear before it to discuss the situation in the coming week. Senator Malcolm Byrne, a member of the committee, told The Journal:

“I think it important that Dublin Pride and RTÉ would engage and talk to each other. The way to achieve change is through understanding and dialogue.”

RTÉ’s Director General Dee Forbes has been invited to attend the meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday 22 June.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme, Head of RTÉ Radio 1 Peter Woods apologised to anyone who may have been offended by the coverage.

“I only speak here on Radio 1 and I speak fundamentally, as a person. As I said, and I would like this to be said separately to everything else. For people who were undoubtedly offended or hurt, and hurt in particular by the programme, I do apologise, and I am sorry about that,” he said.

In a statement this morning, RTÉ said:

Public discussion – sometimes uncomfortable, difficult, and contentious – is central to RTÉ’s prescribed purpose. RTÉ is acutely aware that discussions on issues such as gender and identity are deeply personal to many.

“It is important we listen to them, their families and those close to them, and it is also important that we allow our audiences engage with and understand the issues involved.”

The broadcaster said it will respond to any formal complaints about the broadcasts.

Expressing its disappointment at the termination of the media partnership, RTÉ said standing with the LGBTQ+ community, during Pride month “sends an important signal that RTÉ is here to serve everyone”.

It said it has sought to include these communities and “extend understanding through a range of specially produced content, campaigns and partnerships”.

“RTÉ will continue to stand with our LGBTQ+ staff and the wider community during Pride month and beyond. In time, we hope that we will once again get the opportunity to continue to develop our partnership with Dublin Pride,” it said.

Dublin Pride said it entered into the partnership deal three years ago with RTÉ in an effort to increase positive representation of LGBTQ+ people on TV, radio and online.

In a statement yesterday it said it is “both angered and disappointed” by the discussions on Liveline on RTÉ Radio One, which it said were “unacceptable and triggering” and which it alleged stoked “the flames of anti-trans rhetoric”.