Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has doubled down on his controversial comments about teachers.
The Ryanair boss said at an election event at the weekend, where he endorsed Enterprise Minister and Fine Gael TD Peter Burke, that teachers should not lead the country.
This prompted sharp criticism from teachers’ unions and political parties, while the Fine Gael leadership have attempted to distance themselves from the comments.
Mr O’Leary has since doubled down on his stance, telling Newstalk Breakfast on Monday that there are “too many teachers in the Dail”.
He said that he was making a “serious” point about the need for more diversity in the Dail parliament – and said there was a need for more business owners to become TDs.
The Ryanair chief also said that Media and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin was “far better off back in the classroom”.
“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 Dail where there is a striking surplus of teachers in the Dail is not necessarily one that’s going to get things done.
“I want to see more people enter the Dail 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 Dail are necessarily the best people to deliver the kind of change and enterprise we need.”
He cited Green Party ministers Catherine 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.
“I think Catherine…
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