Political Correctness Gone Mad? Or Is it?

national | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Monday January 09, 2006 17:18 by Gay Geori gg at bearla dot ie

Fianna Fail Politician Refuses to Apologise for Racial Reference

SEANAD leader Mary O'Rourke was last night in hot water after saying some of her campaign helpers had worked "like blacks". On the otherhand, there have been few Dail or Seanad politicians as critical of Irish racism and indeed, State immigration policies, as Mary O'Rourke. Surely it was an unfortunate gaffe.

SEANAD leader Mary O'Rourke was last night in hot water after saying some of her campaign helpers had worked "like blacks". On the otherhand, there have been few Dail or Seanad politicians as critical of Irish racism and indeed, State immigration policies, as Mary O'Rourke. Surely it was an unfortunate gaffe.

However, others are not so certain:

(From the Irish Independent)

The Residents against Racism said they were deeply upset by the comments and found them "deeply offensive".

"I am really surprised at her. It is very offensive to a lot of people," she said. "It's a real gaffe."

Peter O'Mahoney, chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council, said: "The use of such language is ill advised."