Rhonda Paisley
Encyclopedia
Rhonda Paisley is an author, and former politician from Northern Ireland
. She is the daughter of DUP
leader and Northern Ireland's former First Minister Ian Paisley
, is unmarried, and lives with her parents in the family home. She attended Bob Jones University
in the United States (the same institution her father received his honorary degree
from), where she was awarded a BA
in Fine Art
.
for the DUP. Sammy Wilson
named her as Lady Mayoress during his tenure as Lord Mayor of Belfast
on the Republic of Ireland
's RTÉ One
channel. Her father was one of her guests.
" (UFF) incendiary bombings on shops in the Republic of Ireland during July 1991, Paisley claimed the bombings had been "perfectly understandable" given the "betrayal" of Northern Ireland by the British government. A serving DUP councillor at the time, Paisley was widely condemned in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
, in which she alleged religious discrimination
. The case was raised in 1998 and Paisley was awarded £24,249. The ruling was that she had been discriminated against on account of her religious beliefs and political opinions when applying for the post of an arts co-operation officer in 1995.
Up until 2004, Paisley worked as her father's assistant while he was a member of the European Parliament. When he stood down, she became unemployed and stood forward for a position within the DUP. In March 2005 Paisley launched a legal action alleging gender discrimination against the DUP, which named her father Ian Paisley, after she failed in her application for a post in the policy and communications unit in the DUP.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. She is the daughter of DUP
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
leader and Northern Ireland's former First Minister Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
, is unmarried, and lives with her parents in the family home. She attended Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
in the United States (the same institution her father received his honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from), where she was awarded a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Fine Art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
.
Political career
Paisley served as a Belfast City councillorBelfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
for the DUP. Sammy Wilson
Sammy Wilson
Samuel Wilson is a politician from Northern Ireland who is a Member of Parliament and a Member of the Legislative Assembly for East Antrim. He served as Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1986 – 1987; and again from June 2000 to June 2001. He was the first person from the Democratic Unionist Party ...
named her as Lady Mayoress during his tenure as Lord Mayor of Belfast
Lord Mayor of Belfast
The Lord Mayor of Belfast is the leader and chairman of Belfast City Council, elected annually from and by the City's 51 councillors.The Lord Mayor is Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin, while the Deputy Lord Mayor is Ruth Patterson of the Democratic Unionist Party, who were elected in May 2011.The...
Media career
Paisley once guest-presented Saturday Live, a TV chat-showTalk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
on the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
's RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
channel. Her father was one of her guests.
Controversy
The day after a series of "Ulster Freedom FightersUlster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
" (UFF) incendiary bombings on shops in the Republic of Ireland during July 1991, Paisley claimed the bombings had been "perfectly understandable" given the "betrayal" of Northern Ireland by the British government. A serving DUP councillor at the time, Paisley was widely condemned in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Legal action
Paisley took a case to a Fair Employment Tribunal in 1998. The case was against the Arts Council of Northern IrelandArts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland....
, in which she alleged religious discrimination
Religious discrimination
Religious discrimination is valuing or treating a person or group differently because of what they do or do not believe.A concept like that of 'religious discrimination' is necessary to take into account ambiguities of the term religious persecution. The infamous cases in which people have been...
. The case was raised in 1998 and Paisley was awarded £24,249. The ruling was that she had been discriminated against on account of her religious beliefs and political opinions when applying for the post of an arts co-operation officer in 1995.
Up until 2004, Paisley worked as her father's assistant while he was a member of the European Parliament. When he stood down, she became unemployed and stood forward for a position within the DUP. In March 2005 Paisley launched a legal action alleging gender discrimination against the DUP, which named her father Ian Paisley, after she failed in her application for a post in the policy and communications unit in the DUP.