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A PADDY POWER advertising campaign which an Irish transgender support group had criticised as offensive and “deeply transphobic” has been suspended from UK television.
The Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) called on Paddy Power to withdraw the video it was using to promote Cheltenham Ladies’ Day, with TENI National Development Worker Vanessa Lacey saying it made people feel “mocked and ridiculed”.
In the ad, a narrator says that Paddy Power aims to make the 2012 Ladies’ Day “even more exciting by sending in some beautiful transgendered ladies”, followed by images of different women. Racegoers are then invited to “spot the stallions from the mares”.
In a statement, Paddy Power confirmed that although the British television advertising clearance body Clearcast had approved the advert for airing on TV, Clearcast and television broadcasters had decided to suspend the ad.
The bookmaker said it had engaged with UK transgender group The Beaumont Society for consultation on the ad’s script and that the organisation had found “nothing untoward with the advert concept”. It also said that members of the transgender community were cast in the commercial.
“Given the attention and diligence we demonstrated throughout the development of this commercial, we are very disappointed by today’s decision,” Paddy Power said in a statement.
“Finally it is worth pointing out that the commercial, which went live on YouTube less than one week ago, has almost 250,000 views with more ‘likes’ than ‘dislikes’.”
In a statement issued yesterday, Clearcast said it had taken Paddy Power’s consultations with The Beaumont Society into consideration when initially approving the ad, but said that in light of the complaints received following its airing, “it appears that the ad has caused offence and in consultation with broadcasters, it has been decided that the ad should no longer run on their TV or VoD services in its current format.”
“We regret offence that may have been caused,” it added.
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Is there a link to a more detailed breakdown of the plan? It’s going to affect more than just hauliers…
Is there any chance that Irish Ferries would reverse their decision to end the Rosslare to Cherbourg route? It would relieve some pressure at Dublin.
@Harry Comber: there’s a new Rosslare Dunkirk service starting up.
@Harry Comber: IF management are completely useless
Its the governments fault for cramming everything into dublin,it’s a two tier economy.half of irelands GDP comes from dublin alone,totally unsustainable.meanwhile Waterford cork limerick and Galway were starved.the planning in this country is a disgrace
@snotser: When you see who has represented Waterford politically in the past, you’ll understand why nothing has happened there.
Ireland is too Dublin centric.
@The world outside the M50: break it into 4?
And is making Beach/Strand Road in Sandymount one way out of town supposed to help deal with this traffic congestion?
@GClare: oh yes I had forgotten about that ridiculous plan
@Fi Wyse: isn’t that “parked” now?!?
@GClare: I’m not sure how allowing people to drive towards town on the beach road in Sandymount would somehow alleviate traffic at Dublin port?
@Shane Cormican: starting in January apparently
@OnlyHereForTheComments: it will cause backlog on all the Merrion Road and all through Ringsend, Irishtown and Pearce Street, which will lead to backlog all over the area
@GClare: Allowing less traffic to drive from the beach road into irishtown and ringsend will cause backlog all through irishtown and ringsend? I don’t think you’ve thought this complaint through.
@GClare: No port-traffic HGVs use Strand Road, the Port Tunnel was built to direct them away from there, and from the Liffey Quays. The trucks on Strand Road are local traffic, not (directly) affected by Brexit.
Will affect anyone living or working around the IFSC/docks area or living near/using the M50 or any other motorway near any of the ports.
@Jacqueline McCabe: If you live in the area I’d recommend you stockpile bread, johnnies and jax roll.
Going to be fun with driving hours and tacograph rules
Say there’ll be a few smart drivers avoiding the M1 and hitting the likes of the malahide road and Fairview to make the boat on time
Just pull the plug on the UK and when they sink which they will, then we can sail right across to continental Europe in a straight line, any port, just pick one, there’s lots to choose from….. A friend was just sayin’.. ehh!! Just sayin’.
Just a suggestion, but I think we’ll see an increase in UK haulage through Ireland via Northern Ireland as they try to circumvent tariffs so would it be realistic to suggest that Irish haulage takes precedence over Uk haulage or is that too unreasonable?
have your say