Ryanair boss doubles down on remarks as demands grow for public apology
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke has said Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary should “apologise” for his comments comparing other airlines with rapists.
Mr O’Leary made the remarks before his airline’s annual general meeting in Dublin on Thursday, while claiming that rising air travel prices at other airlines would result in passengers switching to Ryanair “because they can’t afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe”.
Speaking at the Fine Gael parliamentary party-think in, Mr Burke said sexual violence should never be trivialised as he called on Mr O’Leary to “reflect” on his comments.
“We should never trivialise sexual violence in this country. I think the comments were not appropriate,” he said.
“Victims of sexual crimes deserve our respect. They deserve our support and I’ve heard a number of agencies who do that support and work in the field, really say how hurtful it has been.
“I think Michael should reflect on those comments. I think he should apologise.”
Ahead of the last general election, Mr Burke was pulled into a controversy after Mr O’Leary made a dig at teachers in the Dáil during a speech at the campaign launch.
“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,” Mr O’Leary said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin was among those who criticised the comments, while Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said the Ryanair boss “should stick to running Ryanair and let the teachers keep doing the brilliant job they do in this country”.
Mr O’Leary faced widespread criticism for saying it is “absolutely” appropriate to compare other airlines with rapists.
He told reporters at the company’s headquarters: “You might find some people will choose not to fly with Ryanair, but you know they’ll be overrun with the people abandoning Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, BA and others, desperate to get to Ryanair’s low fares because they can’t afford to fly with the high-fare rapists around Europe.”
He later repeated the “high-fare rapists” comments. Asked if this was appropriate language, he told reporters: “Absolutely.”
Challenged on whether it was offensive to victims of rape and sexual assault, he said he would “happily offend” the airlines mentioned.
Further pressed on whether the language was trivialising rape, he said: “That’s what I call high-fare airlines like Lufthansa, BA and others.”
Corrinne Hasson, executive director of the National Women’s Council, said Mr O’Leary’s remarks were “completely inappropriate and deeply offensive to survivors of sexual violence”.
“Michael O’Leary’s comments about rape are completely inappropriate and deeply offensive to survivors of sexual violence,” she said. “Comparing rape to selling airline tickets undermines the experiences and trauma of survivors.
“Flippant comments like this show a lack of understanding about rape culture and form part of the bedrock which allows violence against women to thrive in our society.”
Tánaiste Simon Harris said Mr O’Leary should “rectify” his remarks, while Transport Minister Darragh O’Brian described them as “wholly inappropriate”.
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh described Mr O’Leary’s rape remarks as “lazy, uninformed and deeply hurtful”.
She said it felt like he was “chasing soundbites with no regard for how they may affect people”.
“Undoubtedly, the words of high-profile individuals can contribute to trivialising and tolerating sexual violence in our society,” she added. “For many survivors of rape, his words will be deeply hurtful and angering to hear.
“I will write to Mr O’Leary to offer him training on how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful. He has verbalised a historical trope, and as a leading figure in industry he should lead from the front in terms of what he says and does.”
A spokesman for Fórsa, a union representing Ryanair cabin crew, described Mr O’Leary’s comments as “deeply inappropriate”.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said Mr O’Leary’s comparison of rival airlines with “rapists” was “clearly an inappropriate use of language”, adding that the Ryanair boss “knows exactly what he’s at”.
“We’re all here talking about Ryanair – free advertising,” he told reporters at the Fine Gael think‑in taking place in Wexford.
Asked if Mr O’Leary should apologise, he said: “I think he should listen to the experts here, and there’s been many out today.”
Mr O’Brien, the Transport Minister, said the comments were “outrageous” and “wholly inappropriate.”
“Really, for a successful businessman like Michael O’Leary, those type of comments are just outrageous,” he said. “I’d agree with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the Women’s Council of Ireland, and they’re completely inappropriate. The best thing for Michael to do is to apologise and to withdraw them.”
Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers described the comments as “shocking”.
“I support what the National Women’s Council has said and others in condemning his comments, and he should withdraw them,” he said.
“We should never put victims in that light in the context of competition in aviation.”
Ciara Mangan, who was subjected to “a predatory, violent rape” in 2013, said Mr O’Leary should issue a “full, public apology”, adding that she had spoken to other rape survivors who described his comments as “wholly inappropriate and offensive”.
She said the remarks showed “rape or sexual assault haven’t landed on his door or anyone within his circle”, but added that “it doesn’t take it to land on your door to have empathy for others and use compassionate language, language that doesn’t offend”.
Ms Mangan said his claim that he intended to offend his competitors was meaningless.
“I guarantee you they weren’t offended by that,” she said. “It means absolutely nothing to them. It’s completely out of context when describing it in a business context about your competitors.
“It’s disgusting. Nothing really surprises me with Mr O’Leary, but this really is a step too far.”
Dr Caroline Forde, an outreach and support worker with the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS), accused Mr O’Leary of being “callous” and using “sensational language about a very pervasive and serious issue”.
“He’s doing that while triggering and retraumatising victims and survivors. It’s extremely offensive,” she told Newstalk radio.
Ryanair did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr O’Leary also weighed in on US president Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Ireland, saying Mr Trump should receive a “warm welcome” and dismissing those planning demonstrations as “lefty loonies”.
Ireland owes a “huge debt of gratitude” to America and the US president, Mr O’Leary said.
“If you agree or disagree with Trump, Ireland owes a huge debt of gratitude to America,” he said.
“Our economy is hugely dependent on inward investment from America and we should extend every possible courtesy to him regardless of who he is – whether it was Trump or Obama, or Bush.
“I don’t have any time for the lefty loonies who want to be out there doing their stupid protests.”
Ryanair is one of the biggest customers in the world of US planemaker Boeing.
Mr O’Leary declined to say whether he has been invited to any events with Mr Trump while the president is in Ireland.
“I can’t comment on the president’s itinerary or any invitations,” he added
Mr Trump will arrive in Ireland on Saturday morning. He is expected to make his way on the Marine One helicopter to the Phoenix Park in Dublin, where he will meet President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
The park will be closed to the public between 11pm on Thursday and 6pm on Saturday, September 12.
Ms Connolly has previously been a highly critical of Mr Trump.
A large demonstration is expected to take place in central Dublin at the weekend. The “No Welcome for Trump” protest will begin at 1pm on Saturday.
The Irish Neutrality League – a coalition made up of opposition political parties and human-rights organisations – expects a significant number of people to attend.
Mr Trump is due to leave Dublin on Saturday afternoon, travelling to Shannon Airport.
His golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, is hosting the Irish Open this week, where star golfers including Rory McIlroy are taking part.
The area around Doonbeg is also expected to see significant protests taking place while Mr Trump visits the area.
A sell-out crowd of 20,000 people is expected on Saturday and Sunday at the Irish Open, with the total attendance for the event expected to be around 75,000.
Mr Trump bought the Doonbeg resort in 2014 out of receivership after the venue had suffered mounting losses. He paid about €15m for the property, which includes a hotel and the golf course.
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