Katie Hopkins on RTÉ

Last night, one of the biggest TV chat shows in Ireland, The Late Late Show, aired an interview with Katie Hopkins on RTÉ. The main topic of the interview was why she felt stay at home parents were lazy.

In fairness to Ryan Tubridy (the presenter) he did try to give her a hard time; she was incredibly condescending and rude to him.  However, an awful lot of her rubbish was spouted on the State Broadcaster and apart from a couple of audience members who were allowed to speak briefly, her views remained unchecked.

I don’t know the woman, apart from a history of being rolled out as a professional troll here and there by various news outlets and broadcasters. Last night she came across as someone who’d start an argument in a phonebox, like she always does. There is a reason why this individual doesn’t appear on ITV This Morning anymore, in fact over 90,000 reasons as the viewers petitioned the show to have her removed.

There is a strong history of “homemaking” and parenting in Ireland, so much so that it is enshrined in our Constitution/Bunreacht:

2 1° In particular, the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.

2° The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.

Do disregard the reference to gender above because I believe it’s outdated and should refer to the parent, not the mother alone.

I believe that parenting and homemaking are not competitive sports. I’m no better or worse than any other parent out there.  People should be judged by their actions and behaviour, not by the name on their birth certificate or where they live, and certainly not by their role as a stay at home parent. Parenting is darn hard, whether you are working in paid employment full or part time OR if you’re at home fulltime. It is the most difficult job I’ve ever had, yet the most rewarding at the same time.

There should have been a balanced discussion last night. There was nobody there to challenge her adequately (though the audience did try at short notice). One audience member ended up trying to justify her role in the home by revealing she was studying for a doctorate while caring for her children. An amazing woman of course, but if she was solely caring for her children there is nothing wrong with that either.

Can we expect another guest next week with an opposing view, maybe one that working parents are shirking their responsibilities by hiding in the office? Just to be sure that every single parent in the country is irritated, for balance.

I’m no legal whizz or expert. Her views clearly undermine the role of the parent in the home. Does the State broadcaster have a responsibility to facilitate a balanced debate because of the Constitution?

And I have a response by the very qualified Sharon Ní Icí:

@wholesomeIE To answer your question no. The broadcaster is not obliged to do so, the notion is balance may be obtained on another show, in

— Sharon Ní Icí (@sherqui) February 1, 2014

@wholesomeIE ..another time over the course of all broadcasts. So a half hour might be given to stay-at-home parents or those who work…

— Sharon Ní Icí (@sherqui) February 1, 2014

@wholesomeIE …outside the home. That’s how balance is generally represented. I worked in the department that partially ensures that.

— Sharon Ní Icí (@sherqui) February 1, 2014

@wholesomeIE Yes. The broadcaster gives fair balance across the broadcasting schedule, that’s the basic gist.

— Sharon Ní Icí (@sherqui) February 1, 2014