LAST UPDATE | 10 Nov 2024

FINE GAEL MINISTER Peter Burke has distanced himself from comments made by Michael O’Leary about teachers after the Social Democrats demanded he clarify his stance.

The Ryanair boss gave a resounding endorsement to the Fine Gael Westmeath candidate at a campaign event last night and encouraged the public to transfer votes between Burke’s party and Fianna Fáil.

O’Leary claimed the country needs politicians who “get shit done” during his address to the crowd in Clarke’s Bar in Mullingar last night and made clear who he did not want to be in government: The Green Party, Sinn Féin and teachers.

He said: “I think in Peter [Burke] we have a candidate who comes from the private sector which is absolutely vital. The Dáil is full of teachers, 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.”

“I think it’s important that we have people who come from the private sector, like Peter. I think we need more accountants – we may lack personality, but we make up for in action and energy what we lack in personality.”

The crowd at the Fine Gael candidate’s launch event can be heard laughing at O’Leary’s comments. Asked on RTÉ Radio One’s This Week programme this afternoon, Burke said he “absolutely” disagreed with O’Leary but commended him for his record in business. 

‘Outrageous and insulting’ remark

Primary teaching union the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation condemned O’Leary’s remarks today, labelling them “outrageous” and “insulting”.

“Teachers are the backbone of our country, shaping futures, inspiring minds, and driving the success of our society,” the unions’ general secretary John Boyle said.

“The recent comments made by the Ryanair CEO at Minister Burke’s campaign launch were outrageous and an insult to the dedication and hard work of our teachers,” he added.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland similarly branded the controversial comments as extremely offensive and hugely insulting”.

The union said that ahead of the election, political parties and candidates would be “better served” by communicating to the public how they intended to address “critical issues such as, for example, the teacher recruitment and retention crisis that sees students lose out on subject choices as a result of continuing inaction by our policy-makers.”

General Secretary of The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), Kieran Christie, said that the “ignorant and risible” comments “compounded by a cheap and sycophantic reaction by Fine Gael activists” cannot distract from the “real issues in this election from an ASTI perspective”.

He said that the postponement of the Senior Cycle redevelopment programme to allow for “badly needed adjustments”, the chronic recruitment and retention crisis, and increased investment in education in Ireland were more deserving of attention.

“Rather than insulting the teaching profession – which has a sterling track record of educating the youth of the country – with baseless jibes, efforts to iron out the enormous challenges within the system would be a more productive endeavour,” he said.

The Social Democrats’ education spokesperson Gary Gannon was first to call on Burke to clarify the businessman’s remarks, adding that teachers have often “felt like the butt of a joke” under the outgoing government.

“However, last night’s open mocking was a stark revelation about where Fine Gael’s loyalties lie.

The Dublin Central candidate said that O’Leary’s comments reflect the ‘ethos of Fine Gael’ and Minister Burke should now confirm if he agreed with the statement or not. 

“Teachers and other public servants would like to know,” he added.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin, a former teacher, said that O’Leary’s remarks “are insulting and fail to recognise the enormous contribution they have made to Irish society, economy and enterprise.”

He added that the “high quality” of teaching in Ireland has transformed the country. “We owe teachers, who work so well in our schools, a lot.”

‘Public snipes are not helpful to ongoing crisis’

Speaking at her party’s campaign launch this afternoon in Dublin, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: “I think it’s very disappointing to hear anyone in public life taking snipes or sneers at teachers.”

Bacik and the Labour Party called on Fine Gael to distance itself from the remarks and for O’Leary to retract his statement.

The Labour Party have called on Michael O'Leary to retract his statement. Muiris O'Cearbhaill / The Journal Muiris O'Cearbhaill / The Journal / The Journal

Labour councillor in Kilkenny and candidate for Carlow–Kilkenny Seán Ó hArgáin – who recently retired from teaching after 34 years – said:

“This is very serious – we have a crisis in teaching at the minute. We want to encourage young people to join the sector, we want make improvements to younger teachers’ pay and that there is an attractive clear career path for them here.

“Michael O’Leary doesn’t help that situation ever but he’s very sorry to accept their cash when they go abroad.”

Bacik and the Labour Party called on Fine Gael to distance itself from the remarks and for O’Leary to retract his statement.

Transfer votes and oust Greens – O’Leary

The Ryanair CEO has been at loggerheads with government this year over the passenger cap on Dublin Airport. O’Leary argues the cap, which limits passenger flows to 32 million people a year, is restricting the tourism and aviation sector in Ireland.

As part of this row, O’Leary has frequently blamed the issue on the Green Party and with how senior Green Party ministers Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin were handling their respective portfolios, transport and tourism.

Ministers have engaged with the businessman about the issue over many months and leaders have openly supported the idea of removing the cap but say the issue must be resolved with the local authority, Fingal County Council.

“The sooner we get rid of the Greens, the better it will be for everybody in this country,” he said.

O’Leary added that the left-wing parties’ ‘tax and spend’ approach is also “not the way forward” and claimed that Sinn Féin would not be able to run a government. He called on Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil voters, respectively, to transfer between the two parties.

O’Leary that he would be supporting Peter Burke of Fine Gael and Robert Troy of Fianna Fáil as his first and second preference. Troy has welcomed the endorsement but said he plans to campaign on his constituency work record.

The second day of the election campaign is underway, with canvasses continuing throughout the day today. Tánaiste Micheál Martin is in Tipperary while Taoiseach Simon Harris is on a whistle-stop tour of rural Ireland.

The Labour Party, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats are holding events in Dublin today, with some of parties announcing plans and policies which will be included in their manifestos. 

Includes reporting by Emma Hickey.