RTE has said it is "disappointed" with the decision of the organisers of the Dublin Pride festival to terminate their media partnership.
In a statement this morning, RTE said that although public discussion is "sometimes uncomfortable, difficult, and contentious" it is central to their purpose as a national broadcaster.
Dublin Pride organisers took the decision on Tuesday after they were "angered" by "unacceptable, triggering and extremely harmful anti-trans" discussions on Joe Duffy's Liveline on RTE Radio One.
The on-air discussion of trans issues arose on the show last Thursday when a group of women spoke out about proposed changes to the Maternity Act to remove the term ‘mother’ and replace it with 'parent or carer' and it was discussed again on Friday and on Monday.
The Dublin Pride group did not specify which discussion caused the offence when they announced the immediate termination of their official media partnership but said they "expect better than for RTE to stoke the flames of anti-trans rhetoric".
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This is the second time that the Dublin Pride festival has ended their media partnership with RTE.
They previously cut ties with the broadcaster following an incident known as 'Pantigate' in 2014, where RTE paid €85,000 worth of damages to people following comments by Rory O'Neill aka Panti Bliss on The Saturday Night Show.
This saw 98FM take over as the official media sponsor of Dublin Pride before the festival once again paired with RTE in 2019.
The Dublin Pride parade is due to take place on June 25.
The full statement from RTE on Wednesday morning, said: "RTÉ is disappointed with the decision to end a partnership we had developed together with a range of bodies over the last three years.
"Standing with the LGBGTQ+ community, during Pride month sends an important signal that RTÉ is here to serve everyone, and over the last three years RTÉ has sought to include these communities and extend understanding through a range of specially produced content, campaigns and partnerships.
"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.
"RTÉ will, consistent with its statutory obligations, respond to any formal complaints concerning the broadcasts.
"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."
