Query: "....RTE have referred to the Taoiseach as the 'prime minister'....."

UglyBolloxFace · 24-08-2011 10:41AM #1

I was reading the (now locked) thread about Northern Ireland and the UK, and a user (Naomi00) stated:

The amount of times RTE have referred to the Taoiseach as the 'prime minister' and called the Dáil the 'parliment' etc is embarrassing

I find this really hard to believe, and asked for some links to see whether this had occurred or not. But the thread was locked.

So my question is, does anyone recall RTE doing this, and if so when, and any links?

Buceph · 24-08-2011 10:43AM

I have never heard them refer to An Taoiseach as the prime minister.

I have never heard them refer to "The Dail" as "The Parliament." I have however heard them refer to the Dail as a parliamentary process and the like, which isn't surprising, as otherwise they wouldn't be talking English as opposed to using Irish proper nouns.

FatherLen · 24-08-2011 10:44AM

dunno i rarely watch rte but i have never heard it.

Dionysus · 24-08-2011 10:45AM

Highly unlikely, ever, with the sole exception of referring to "the two prime ministers" when talking about the views/decisions of both at a British-Irish meeting. 'The two taoisigh' would sound odd in that context.

Emiko · 24-08-2011 10:46AM

FatherLen wrote: »

dunno i rarely watch rte but i have never heard it.

It's the Irish national TV and radio broadcaster.

chin_grin · 24-08-2011 10:46AM

English news channels do this a lot. Well the last few times I've heard the position being referred to as such. <sips tea>

FatherLen · 24-08-2011 10:47AM

Emiko wrote: »

It's the Irish national TV and radio broadcaster.

"heard it" as in never heard that being said on rte.
did you honestly think i didnt know what rte is?

Emiko · 24-08-2011 10:48AM

FatherLen wrote: »

"heard it" as in never heard that being said on rte.
did you honestly think i didnt know what rte is?

UglyBolloxFace · 24-08-2011 10:49AM

Emiko wrote: »

It's the Irish national TV and radio broadcaster.

:rolleyes: You know what he meant.

conorhal · 24-08-2011 10:52AM

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

I was reading the (now locked) thread about Northern Ireland and the UK, and a user (Naomi00) stated:

I find this really hard to believe, and asked for some links to see whether this had occurred or not. But the thread was locked.

So my question is, does anyone recall RTE doing this, and if so when, and any links?

They are taking their lead from their new political masters in Fine Gael, whose TD's that insist on refering to the Dail as parliment all the time, it's part of their west brit war on anything uniquely Irish.

I Heart Internet · 24-08-2011 10:58AM

I've never, ever heard "prime minister" used instead of Taoiseach by RTE except in certain circumstances where they might be comparing the role with other prime ministers in other countries or they are talking with a non-Irish person who they suspect will be confused by the term.

I don't think it's an issue tbh.

mickydoomsux · 24-08-2011 11:04AM

Maybe RTE just want to report things properly without having useless bog-talk littering their news items.

Perhaps they want the rest of the world to be able to fully understand it.

zac8 · 24-08-2011 11:05AM

meh, it would only be embarrassing if it happened on the nuacht

prinz · 24-08-2011 11:08AM

Don't remember them ever using it in isolation no. As above, sometimes they might refer to the 'two prime ministers' or something like that, yes, and on current affairs programmes with foreign guests.

As for the Dáil they do sometimes refer to parliament buildings, parliamentary process etc. No issue.

UglyBolloxFace · 24-08-2011 11:22AM

I Heart Internet wrote: »

I've never, ever heard "prime minister" used instead of Taoiseach by RTE except in certain circumstances where they might be comparing the role with other prime ministers in other countries or they are talking with a non-Irish person who they suspect will be confused by the term.

I don't think it's an issue tbh.

I never said it was an issue. Was just looking to see if anyone recalled hearing it.

Mr. Incognito · 24-08-2011 11:30AM

Most of the RTE Website is copy and paste from other news outlets

In fact most online media is tbh

Could easily happen as a result

Opelfruit · 24-08-2011 11:30AM

conorhal wrote: »

They are taking their lead from their new political masters in Fine Gael, whose TD's that insist on refering to the Dail as parliment all the time, it's part of their west brit war on anything uniquely Irish.

One thing I have noticed about GAA playing, keen Irish historian and fluent Gaelgoir, Enda Kenny, is his aversion to anything uniquely Irish. :rolleyes:

Richard · 27-08-2011 08:30AM

conorhal wrote: »

They are taking their lead from their new political masters in Fine Gael, whose TD's that insist on refering to the Dail as parliment all the time, it's part of their west brit war on anything uniquely Irish.

But the Dail is a parliament. So is the British House of Commons. The word "parliament" is a description of both of them, but the name of neither.

Green Back · 27-08-2011 08:53AM

'Prime minister', 'parliament' and for that matter 'police/policing' are all generic terms. I dont see anything wrong with their use. When they are referring to specific individaul offices then of course they should use the correct names. It's got nothing to do with 'west-Brit' nonesense that some posters are quick to shout about, these type of people are very insecure.

Kev_ps3 · 27-08-2011 09:10AM

Not surprising from that west brit organization

goose2005 · 27-08-2011 10:59AM

Richard wrote: »

But the Dail is a parliament. So is the British House of Commons. The word "parliament" is a description of both of them, but the name of neither.

no, they are the lower house of parliament. The Oireachtas is our parliament (Dail + Seanad).

super_furry · 27-08-2011 11:02AM

Kev_ps3 wrote: »

Not surprising from that west brit organization

Except it didn't happen, did it?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 27-08-2011 11:09AM

super_furry wrote: »

Except it didn't happen, did it?

Never, ever, ever let the facts get in the way of an oppertunity to use the phrase "west birt".

terradactyl84 · 27-08-2011 11:13AM

well are ya surprised? most of the people working there are not the sharpest. But don't forget: you pay e160 every year to them plus other taxes! suckers!

super_furry · 27-08-2011 11:15AM

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Never, ever, ever let the facts get in the way of an oppertunity to use the phrase "west birt".

It's a shame he got rid of his Manchester United sig, would have given the whole piece much more credibility.

senorwipesalot · 27-08-2011 11:42AM

Im going to contact my local M.P. about this.Its just not on.

Mike 1972 · 27-08-2011 11:58AM

Is "prime minister" basically not a pretty accurate description of what a Taoiseach is ?

Im sure lots of countries have fancy titles for their heads of government in their local languages but one rarely hears them used in English language news bulletins.

Never understood why Ireland insists on calling its prime minister a "Taoiseach" (Even when speaking Irish/Gaelic whats wrong with "Priomh Aire" ?) its police "Gardai", etc etc. Comes across as being insistent on being different to other countries purely for for the sake of it

Nulty · 27-08-2011 12:07PM

Never heard it but at the Irish Open (Golf) the MC at the presentation of the trophy referred to Enda Kenny as

....the 'An Taoiseach'

LordSutch · 27-08-2011 02:29PM

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

I was reading the (now locked) thread about Northern Ireland and the UK, and a user (Naomi00) stated: . . .

Northern Ireland and the UK :cool:

Regarding Enda as Prime Minister, well he is our Prime Minister in the English language, and depending on the context, then I see nothing at all wrong with describing the Taoiseach of the day as the Irish Prime Minister, because he is !!!

Mike 1972 · 27-08-2011 02:39PM

LordSutch wrote: »

Northern Ireland and the UK

RTE come out with this one all the time -referring to the UK as "The North and the UK" :rolleyes:

Notes to editors:
"Britain": = That slightly bigger island to the East consisting of England/Wales/Scotland
"UK": = England/Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland
"The North" = Donegal ?

veryangryman · 27-08-2011 04:02PM

mickydoomsux wrote: »

Maybe RTE just want to report things properly without having useless bog-talk littering their news items.

Perhaps they want the rest of the world to be able to fully understand it.

Why the fk would it matter whether the rest of the world understand it. It's irish news for Ireland.

Query: "....RTE have referred to the Taoiseach as the 'prime minister'....."

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