Fine Gael has distanced itself from comments made by Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary about the suitability of teachers to run for office at a campaign event in support of Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke.
Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said he did not agree with Mr O’Leary’s suggestion that there were too many teachers in the Dáil, adding “teachers do a very good job and it’s up to the people of Ireland to decide who they want to elect”.
The remarks by Mr O’Leary sparked criticism from across the political spectrum and they have created a headache for Mr Harris’s party as they came at the launch of Mr Burke’s campaign for re-election.
Mr Burke told RTÉ radio on Sunday he “absolutely” disagreed with Mr O’Leary’s remarks about teachers – which drew widespread laughter from attendees at the Fine Gael campaign event on Saturday evening.
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Addressing the audience in Mullingar, where the two men live, the Ryanair boss said: “I think in Peter we have a candidate who comes from the private sector which is absolutely vital. The Dáil is 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.
“So I think it’s important that we have people who come from the private sector, like Peter. It’s important that we have more accountants. We may lack personality – but we make up in action and energy what we lack in personality.”
Mr O’Leary said, after giving Fine Gael their number one, “I would also urge everybody to give your number two to Fianna Fáil. It’s important in this election that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporters transfer to each other.”
A priority was to “weed out the Greens”, the airline boss said. He went on to criticise investment in bicycle lanes in Ireland, adding: “The sooner we get rid of the Greens, the better it would be for everyone in this country.”
Asked about the remarks about teachers on Sunday, Mr Burke said: “Those comments, absolutely, I don’t agree with.” However, the Fine Gael TD said he acknowledged the “success and vision” of Mr O’Leary as a businessman.
While canvassing in Galway Mr Harris said he did not think the remarks were appropriate, noting Fine Gael was running a number of teachers in the election.
Earlier, Fianna Fáil Minister of State James Browne said Mr O’Leary’s comments about teachers were “offensive”, while Social Democrats education spokesman Gary Gannon said the “derisory” remarks about public servants “was a stark revelation about where Fine Gael’s loyalties lie”.
The Social Democrats TD said: “Siding with big business, while eroding public services and showing disdain for public servants, is a core part of their ethos. Michael O’Leary just said the quiet part out loud.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr O’Leary’s comments were “completely inappropriate”, adding for teachers to be “jeered and demeaned” in the way they were was “unacceptable”.
Teachers’ unions also criticised Mr O’Leary.
Irish National Teachers’ Organisation general secretary John Boyle said the comments were “both outrageous and deeply insulting to the dedication and hard work of Ireland’s teachers”.
Teachers’ Union of Ireland general secretary Michael Gillespie said “on a daily basis, teachers carry out extraordinary work across the country” and called Mr O’Leary’s remarks “extremely offensive”.
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