Hi °C | Lo °C The President of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has denied that remarks he made about the effects of the recession on his trade were offensive.
Sean O'Laoire said a column and blog he wrote were meant to be "satirical" and he took the troubles facing architects "profoundly seriously".
Mr O'Laoire hit back at those who complained, describing them as "thin-skinned".
The architects who complained to the Herald about the articles said they were humiliated by the publications.
Unemployment in the profession has now hit 41pc.
The column, in the RIAI's newsletter, was published last September, as the recession started to bite.
Titled "things to do (and not to do) in a recession", it listed tips including "drink cheap wine", "walk about aimlessly", "cross-dress and wear mascara", and "join Libertas".
In the blog on the Irish Architecture Foundation's website Mr O'Laoire writes: "We may be entering a whole new world of 'recession expression' which may eschew black entirely: the new world of 'charity shop and skip chic'. I have no doubt that architects will not be found wanting."
One architect said: "I think he should apologise for what he wrote, it was humiliating, below the belt."
Another, who is unemployed, said: "For someone like me to be told the solution was to drink cheap wine, it seemed very glib," he said.
Neither wished to be named.
Gloom
Mr O'Laoire pointed out that the RIAI had undertaken a series of support initiatives for members. "The article was deliberately written as a piece to lighten the mood in a very gloomy time," Mr O'Laoire said.
"I apologise for nothing I have written. I can't help but feel that people are either very thin skinned or have no education in satire."
"If you read it objectively, it's not offensive. If it did offend anyone I'm sorry but it's taken out of the context of the support I have shown for all my colleagues."
Among the initiatives the RIAI has undertaken are a help pack on members' rights and training opportunities.
These were set out in subsequent issues of the magazine.
aphelan@herald.ie
