Ryanair CEO Sparks Controversy with Remarks About Teachers in Dáil

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has come under fire for comments he made about teachers during a Fine Gael party gathering, stirring debate on the opening weekend of Ireland’s general election campaign. O’Leary suggested that teachers were not ideally suited for leadership roles in the Dáil (the lower house of parliament), sparking criticism from teaching unions and politicians. He remarked, “The Dáil is full of teachers. Nothing wrong with teachers, I love teachers, but I wouldn’t generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done.”

Irish politicians quickly responded, with Fine Gael leader and outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris distancing himself from O’Leary’s remarks. He praised teachers as “the backbone of Irish society” and suggested that many would find classroom work challenging. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Social Democrats condemned O’Leary’s remarks as inappropriate, with McDonald emphasizing the essential work teachers perform daily for children.

O’Leary defended his stance, arguing that the Dáil needed more private-sector representatives to address pressing issues such as housing and infrastructure. He criticized former teacher and outgoing Tourism and Culture Minister Catherine Martin, citing her handling of tourism caps at Dublin Airport and difficulties managing issues at RTÉ as examples of ineffective leadership from former educators.

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