Michael O’Leary comments ‘had impact on victims’, minister says

Comments by Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary “had an impact on victims” of rape, an Irish Cabinet minister has said.

The billionaire was heavily criticised by politicians in both Ireland and the UK after he said last week it was “absolutely” appropriate to compare competitor airlines to “rapists”.

He was urged to offer a “swift apology” by the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), Rachel Morrogh, who said he had trivialised rape.

The airline boss has refused to apologise.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said Mr O’Leary should “withdraw” the comments and “consider apologising”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin (Liam McBurney/PA)

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The Fianna Fáil deputy leader was commenting after Taoiseach Micheál Martin stopped short of specifically suggesting the Ryanair boss should apologise.

In an interview on Monday, Mr Martin said he is “disappointed” by the comments, but said he would “leave it to him to deal with in the best way possible” when asked if Mr O’Leary should apologise.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said he did not think it was acceptable that the Taoiseach had not sought an apology.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan (Cillian Sherlock/PA)

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He told reporters on Tuesday: “I think Michael O’Leary absolutely should have apologised.

“He seemed to have no regard at all for people who’ve gone through the trauma of rape and sexual attack and abuse.

“For him to be so flippant in his commentary and not to be sensitive to what people have gone through is not acceptable – so we would all call on him to apologise.”

Asked why the Taoiseach had not called for an apology, Mr Chambers told reporters in Dublin on Tuesday Mr O’Leary’s remarks were “shocking” and “inappropriate”.

He said: “I believe they have had an impact on victims, and we’ve heard that from some of the respective organisations like the Women’s Council and Rape Crisis Centre.

“And I think he should reflect on what he said and withdraw them.

“And you know I think he should he should consider apologising.”

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers (Niall Carson/PA)

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Speaking at an informal meeting of cohesion ministers as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Mr Chambers added: “I don’t think it speaks to someone who leads an organisation which obviously has done so much for consumers and for aviation more generally, and I think the remarks were inappropriate.”

Mr O’Leary made the comment ahead of his airline’s annual general meeting in Dublin on Thursday.

He claimed rising air travel prices at other airlines would see passengers switch to Ryanair.

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.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary (Clodagh Kilcoyne/PA)

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Asked by the Press Association whether this was appropriate language, Mr O’Leary told reporters: “Absolutely.”

He later said rape was a “terrible crime” but rejected the assertion he was trivialising rape.

Mr Martin urged Mr O’Leary to “stand back and reflect and listen to the voice of women”.

He said rape was an “awful violation of a person which leaves a terrible trauma”, adding: “And I would just say, stand back and reflect and listen, and maybe respond more appropriately.”

Mr O’Leary has maintained he did not trivialise rape and stated he will not apologise.