Michael O’Leary doubles down: ‘Teachers not the best people to deliver change’
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Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has doubled down on his criticism of teachers, saying that Arts Minister Catherine Martin would be "better off back in the classroom".
Mr O'Leary's original comments came at the election campaign launch of Enterprise Minister Peter Burke and led to Fine Gael looking to distance themselves from the businessman.
Speaking at the event, Mr O'Leary described the Dáil as being "full of teachers".
"There is nothing wrong with teachers. I love teachers — I have four children — but I wouldn’t generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done," he said at the event.
Mr O'Leary said it was "important that we have more accountants" in politics.
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"We may lack personality — but we make up in action and energy what we lack in personality.”
Speaking to on Monday, Mr O'Leary did not back down saying he was making a “serious” point about the need for more diversity in the Dáil.
“This country is facing enormous challenges over the next decade, where the population is going to rise from five to six million people,” Mr O’Leary said.
“Now we need lots of teachers delivering excellent education in the classroom, but a Dáil where there is a striking surplus of teachers in the Dáil is not necessarily one that’s going to get things done.
“I want to see more people enter the Dáil from private enterprise, from the private sector, and that’s the energy we need if we’re going to fix the infrastructure challenges we face, and if we’re going to provide housing and infrastructure for a population of six million people.
“I think teachers do a great job in the classroom, but I’m not sure that teachers in the Dáil are necessarily the best people to deliver the kind of change and enterprise we need.”
Mr O'Leary also hit out at the Green Party, saying: “I think nobody should vote for the Greens because they’ve been like weeds in our economy over the last five years, and they need to be weeded out”.
He cited Green Party ministers Ms Martin and Roderic O’Gorman as two former teachers “who have clearly failed” in their roles.
“I’ll give you the example of Catherine Martin, for example, who’s the Minister for Tourism. She’s been Minister for Tourism for five years, and what has she delivered? A (passenger) cap at Dublin Airport."
He said Ms Martin would "be far better off back in the classroom doing the valuable work that teachers do".
Mr O'Leary said the country needs "a better mix of professions" in the Dáil "if we're going to deliver for our population that's rising rapidly over the next decade".
Asked about Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who was a former teacher, Mr O'Leary said “there is an exception to every rule”.
Mr O'Leary continued by saying that people should vote for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the upcoming election.
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman said it is "really sad to see billionaires punching down" is becoming a part of Irish politics.
Mr O'Gorman said Mr O'Leary's "fantasy cabinet" would be filled with "solely rich men".
He said the disrespect to teachers and the entire profession shown by Mr O'Leary was disgraceful and it was particularly shocking to see the comments being met by cheers from those attending the Fine Gael launch.
Mr O'Gorman said that Mr O'Leary has consistently attacked and undermined public services in Ireland over the years.
Both Taoiseach Simon Harris and Mr Martin said they disagree with Mr O'Leary's comments, as has Mr Burke.
Transport Minister and former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, speaking later on , said that Mr O’Leary dislikes the Green Party because “we deliver, but not what he wants”.
“The real question here, and this is an election issue, is: why is Fine Gael aligning themselves with Michael O’Leary in this way?” the former Green Party leader said.
Mr Ryan said it was a sign that the party wants to be “less ambitious on climate” which he said was “a mistake”.