We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THIS AFTERNOON’S EDITION of Liveline went out with quite a bang – with host Joe Duffy (almost) channeling Breaking Bad’s Walter White as he challenged a caller’s criticism of RTÉ.
The show had been debating the 1916 commemorations – and in particular the State funeral of Thomas Kent, which is set to take place in Cork this Friday.
The final caller – Gerry – took a pop at at RTÉ over its coverage of the commemorations, prompting Duffy to ask him several times which station he was currently speaking to.
Here’s Joe’s side of the conversation…
“Say it Gerry, what station are you on at the minute?
“What station are you on at the minute?
“Say it. Say it, Gerry. What station are you on at the minute?
“Say it! Say it!
“You won’t say it.
“You won’t say it.
“You’re on RTÉ, Gerry.
“You’re on RTÉ.
“You’re on RTÉ Gerry and you’re welcome to come back on again.
“Go raibh míle maith agat.
“Go raibh míle maith agat, Gerry.
“You’re on RTÉ.”
It should be noted – the caller was continuing to try and make a number of (apparently unconnected) points about TV3 and Enda Kenny as all this played out, and chose not to engage with Joe’s line of questioning.
Ray D’Arcy, following a handover from the Liveline host, observed that he wasn’t sure how many times Duffy had asked the caller to ‘say it’ – but guessed that it must be somewhere in the double digits.
Here’s a poll for Liveline listeners only: who was in the right?
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What the fcuk is the point of this article?
The same as Live Line…..a winge fest!
I think the point is that a presenter on our state funded radio station can’t behave himself in a civil manner… Arrogant pr”ck.
Marty, sounds like you were born to be a slave.
Wonder if you’d give out if you had to take part in a communal society.
Indeed… asking who was in the right and not even a full transcript or audio of the conversation…
I think you misspelt website.
@ fear ban, if you get comment of the week thats it!!!!
Joe is as odd as two left shoes and only getting odder.
How he can get 500k a year for this show, stunning.
Say it John, say it! Say Rte! That’s how John! Rte!
Duffy has truely been moulded by rte,the arrogance of him shouting down a listener because he questioned the stations bias.
Letting some lad on for a whine at the end of your show doesn’t negate RTÉ’s complete one-sidedness, Duffy, you rotund clown.
He sounds defensive and weird, I’m with Gerry
As Frankie Boyle said about Gordon Brown – Joe Duffy looks like someone drew a sad face on a scrotum.
Duffy never took criticism of his beloved RTE too well. in fact, no on-air RTE presenters tolerated criticism of RTE until the case with the defamation of the priest finally blew that door wide open.
Same thing used to happen in Cork in a lot of respects, No media outlet would criticise another, no letters to editors would be published if they criticised another Cork station or publication. It was a closed shop. until, finally, Neil Prendeville was caught lobbing it out on a plane. That was the end of that. But look what it took to happen.
No criticism of the sacred cow tolerated on Joe’s watch
I`m surprised he didn`t invoke the Blasphemy Law.
Daragh, if you’re going to do an article about the GBC, can you please do one on the farsical Clare Byrne show last night, where we witnessed two people in favour of water charges debating each other about Irish Water.
Byrne is a lightweight and way out of her depth,. She made a mess of the LGBT debates too.
Not to mention the Ex RTE Newsreader, middle of the second row, being asked by Claire Byrne why she is paying her water bill, Her name is Angie Mezzetti, journalist and former RTE newscaster.
Now producing documentaries…..and guess who buys the documentaries..?
Answer on a postcard to Joe Duffy, Liveline, RTE studios..
RTE Unbiased, My Bollocks
They’ve done this time and again. And the irony is the water warriors insist RTE is biased in favour of the government. Hilarious!
Mario Rosenstocks gonna have a field day in the morning…….
Duffy and Darcy do people have anything else to do listening to those 2.
EGOS so big they are enthralled by their own verbosity
Joe is the definition of an ignorant person.
I met him briefly a few years ago in a pleasant setting but I was surprised how ignorant a person he actually is.
Lads here’s a scoop for you’s one more time rather than filler like this. CSO ASKED EUROSTAT TO REMOVE A PARAGRAPH ABOUT WATER PRIVATISATION FROM THE REPORT. WAS THERE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE IN A STATE BODY? WHY WAS IT REMOVED?
Any chance of the audio? No!
Rte radio app and then podcasts. Just listened to it. Gerry sounds like he has a problem with TV3.
Can’t stand RTE.
I wanna know who has has time to listen to Joe Duffy and then tweet about it? Doesn’t anybody in this country work anymore?
Beano
Like the rest of us who make a comment here you also have the time so why ask the question?
Many of us Beano would be well in to our 7th hour of work by that stage. Dinner is a welcome break
Podcasts Beano! The appliance of Science!
Whatever that bloke said ,,have he not the rite to b heard ,free speech my arse ,Joe get a life ,,
You can’t upset the RTE king of bias Mr Duffy, it’s just not allowed in his bubble!
Is there a “who cares?” button for this poll?
Dictatorship no, German imperialism yes…
Gowan joe ya pup ya…
We know where you are Joe, but we don’t know your velocity, or vice versa.
Joe Duffy never stops banging on as if he’s a working class hero ! savage eye did him best , tweaking his hairy nipples , ” oh dats terrible Josephine”
He’s a Ghoul , feeding on the misery if others.
Not looking forward to all this 100 year anniversary rubbish next year
in fairness Joe was right the caller was on Rte.
It was priceless.
Well, it wasn’t actually; the price is 300K p.a.
I like Joe he is least biased of all RTE presenters, not the usual lefty on RTE.
RTE has been good to Joe he should defend it.
We pay RTE, we pay Joe. The ungrateful pup. Mad as a box of frogs.
Can’t stand Joe Duffy. pompous old yap. that George hook is another..croaky ol arrogant toad.
I must be missing something but where does Werner Heisenberg come into this? Has it got something to do with Matrix Mechanics and what does “channelling” mean?
I refuse to vote
If you were like Joe sucking the teat out of 300,000 euro a year from of r t e for been ignorant ,you would defend your employer too, no criticism allowed ,
All I could think of listening to Gerry’s rants was he must be making a fortune for Alufoil
have your say