O’Leary Calls for Greater Dáil Diversity, Defends Teacher Remarks

Michael O’Leary, the head of an Irish low-cost carrier group, Ryanair, is in hot water about his teacher remarks. He said that greater Dail diversity is required. 

Previously, O’Leary stated that teachers should not be present in Ireland’s political parties as they are not good politicians. His controversial teacher remarks created a stir in the teachers’ community, both the teachers’ unions (INTO, TUI and ASTI) and opposition parties, while Dail’s people chose to remain silent. 

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) called the remarks “outrageous and an insult to the dedication and hard work of our teachers”. 

Kieran Christie, General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) tagged the remarks as “ignorant and risible” and called them a “cheap and sycophantic reaction”. 

Why and when O’Leary gave moot teacher remarks? 

While supporting Enterprise Minister and Fine Gael TD Peter Burke at an election rally over the weekend, O’Leary made this statement. He was of the view that greater Dail diversity is in high demand now. 

He said,

“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”. 

However, this morning O’Leary still stands by his teacher remarks when he had uttered them on Saturday. He knew that everyone has the right to disagree and that his statement was “perfectly correct”. 

Speaking to the media, he admitted that teachers always do a fantastic job while in the classroom. On the other hand, he believes that greater Dail diversity is desperately needed as people from different professions would bring in diverse views which would offer a better mix of professionals. This is much needed for changing and growing the Irish population. 

Mr O’Leary went on to say that he hopes to see more private sector representatives join the Dail. It would bring the required energy which is the source of delivering the change and infrastructure that Ireland needs at the moment. 

The head of the airline urged voters to support Fianna Fail candidates instead of Sinn Fein or the Green Party. 

O’Leary gave an explanation for his views as he stuck by them 

Mr O’Leary explained that he knew what he said as he made a “serious” point about greater Dail diversity. He said that more business people are needed in the Dail rather than only the teachers, who are remarkable otherwise in the classrooms. 

He gave the example of Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sports and Media, Catherine Martin was a better teacher for the classroom rather than being in an important position like that in the Irish government. He said that she had been the minister for five years but her work is not what could be considered worthy, except for introducing a passenger cap at Dublin airport. 

Also, he gave the example of Roderic O’Gorman, who is another former teacher but has clearly failed in his role as well. Teachers are exceptional in the classroom and not great in making decisions when it comes to the government, Ryanair CE suggested. 

Similarly, he cited that it is not that he feels teachers are less qualified for government jobs. But now that he has seen examples of teachers working in Dail, who have not performed well for the past several years, it is time for greater Dail diversity instead. 

For Tainasite and Fianna Fail leader, Michael Martin, he described him as an “exception” that every rule has. 

O’Leary elucidated that the Irish population is going to grow in the next decade, even more than five to six million people currently. He knew that surely, the need for teachers is going to increase as well, but only for teaching the children in classrooms and not in Dail, where already a striking surplus of teachers is not getting things done right at the moment. 

In his view, since positive results are not observed from the teachers working in the Dail, it is high time that more people from the private sector should bring in the required energy to face the most important issues like housing and infrastructure. It is now becoming mandatory, as he said, to overcome these challenges with a proper mix to cater to the six million population, and even growing. 

Simon Harris’ views 

Taoiseach Simon Harris also did not agree with O’Leary’s remarks on the teachers and considered teachers as “the backbone of Irish society”. 

He emphasised that the work that these teachers have been doing for years is commendable for shaping the “children’s futures”. 

Minister for Transport spoke up 

The minister of transport, Eamon Ryan spoke up against Ryanair CE’s teacher remarks as he told that Mr O’Leary dislikes the Green Party. It could be because the party delivers what it has planned and not what he wants. 

He had questions in mind about why Fine Gael should align themselves on how O’Leary wants them to. He was doubtful whether the party wanted to appear “less ambitious on climate” which, he thought, would be a “mistake”. 

How did other people respond? 

Jim O’Callaghan, a candidate of Fianna Fail for Dublin Bay South said that he is the son of a primary school teacher and he felt that it is absolutely wrong to say that teachers are incapable of getting things done right. 

Ryanair head confessed that being a teacher at 19 years old and expecting that teachers can enter politics and the Irish government could be possible. It is not easy, he said. When asked whether he was hinting at Mr O’Callaghan, he said that he did not say that clearly. 

The Social Democrats education spokesperson said that the remarks were derogatory and caused a clear-cut revelation about the loyalties of Fine Gael. 

The Social Democrats TD opened up about the remarks that were an open declaration from the airline boss that he shows more respect to big business while disrespecting the public servants, which is a “core part of their ethos”. 

How is Dail made up of teachers? 

The recently dissolved Dail had approximately 20 members as former teachers. There were more than 30 teachers working in the Irish government in different positions but not bringing in the expected results, Ryanair’s head said. 

Furthermore, there were seven teachers within the party at present, and five of them were in senior positions.

FAQs

1. What did Michael O’Leary say about teachers in the Dáil?

• Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, criticised the high number of teachers in the Dáil, saying that while teachers do an excellent job in the classroom, they may lack the diverse skills needed in government. He suggested that more professionals from the private sector should be involved in politics to bring new energy and perspectives.

2. Why did O’Leary make these comments?

• O’Leary made these comments while supporting Enterprise Minister and Fine Gael TD Peter Burke at an election rally. He argued that greater diversity in the Dáil, including more private-sector professionals, would lead to better decision-making and solutions, particularly for challenges like housing and infrastructure.

3. What specific examples did O’Leary provide to support his argument?

• He cited Tourism Minister Catherine Martin and Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman, both former teachers, as examples of Dáil members whose performance, in his view, could be improved by greater experience outside education.

4. What was the response from teachers’ unions and organisations?

• Teachers’ unions, including the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), strongly condemned O’Leary’s comments. INTO called them “outrageous and an insult,” while ASTI labelled them “ignorant” and “risible.”

5. How did other politicians respond?

• Taoiseach Simon Harris defended teachers, calling them “the backbone of Irish society.” Transport Minister Eamon Ryan also criticised O’Leary, suggesting he may dislike the Green Party because it delivers on its climate policies, which may conflict with O’Leary’s interests.