Ireland’s deputy premier has called on Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary to "rectify" comments comparing rival airlines to rapists, following criticisms that he was "trivialising" sexual violence.
The businessman faced condemnation across Ireland and the UK from politicians, campaign groups and a staff union after maintaining it was "absolutely" appropriate to label competitor airlines as "rapists".
O’Leary has been asked to withdraw the "disgusting" remarks and apologise, with a support group offering training on "how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful".
His comments were made ahead of Ryanair’s annual general meeting in Dublin on Thursday.
The billionaire argued that higher prices at competitor airlines would prompt passengers to switch to Ryanair.
Speaking at company headquarters, he told reporters: "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 phrase "high-fare rapists".
Asked by reporters if this was appropriate language, O’Leary said: "Absolutely."
Challenged on whether the phrasing offended victims of rape and sexual assault, he said he would "happily offend" the airlines mentioned.
Pressed on whether he was trivialising rape, he said: "That’s what I call high-fare airlines like Lufthansa, BA and others."
He described rape as a "terrible crime" but denied trivialising it.
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Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said the comments were "clearly an inappropriate use of language" and that O’Leary "should have moved to rectify it".
Asked if an apology was necessary, Mr Harris told reporters at his Fine Gael party think-in: "I think he should listen to the experts and there’s been many out today."
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Rachel Morrogh told PA she was "dismayed" at his "lazy and uninformed comments".
"For many survivors of rape, his words will be deeply hurtful and angering to hear," she said. "I will write to Mr O’Leary to offer him training on how the trivialisation of rape is so harmful.”
Rape Crisis England & Wales chief executive Ciara Bergman described the comparison as "shameful and embarrassing" and "deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse".
She said: "I would be more than happy to meet with Mr O’Leary, CEO to CEO, to explain the work Rape Crisis and our members do to challenge the idea that sexual violence is a topic which can or should be trivialised – ever".
Katie Kempen, chief executive at Victim Support in England and Wales, called the remarks "appalling", "offensive", "completely unacceptable and deeply insulting to survivors of rape and sexual abuse".
Ireland’s Public Expenditure Minister and Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers said: "I think his comments were shocking, and I support what the National Women’s Council have said and others in condemning his comments, and he should withdraw them.
"We should never put victims in that light in the context of competition in aviation."
Michael O’Leary urged to apologise
A spokesman for Fórsa, representing Ryanair cabin crew in Ireland, called the comments "deeply inappropriate".
Irish Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger told PA: "I think it’s disgusting that Michael O’Leary would trivialise rape and sexual assault by bandying around the word ‘rapists’ in order to get a provocative soundbite and get covered in the media in relation to other airlines."
Ms Coppinger urged him to "apologise" and "withdraw" the remarks.
National Women’s Council of Ireland executive director Corrinne Hasson said the comments were "completely inappropriate and deeply offensive to survivors of sexual violence".
She added: "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."
Irish Labour senator Laura Harmon called on the Ryanair boss to engage with the Rape Crisis Centre to better understand the "horrific trauma of surviving sexual assault".
She said: "It is shameful to see O’Leary diminish the real experience of these survivors in such a way.
"Reports conducted by organisations like the National Women’s Council of Ireland often detail the systemic challenges victims of domestic violence are faced with when they look for help – through the courts and the legal system, and through first responders like the Gardaí.
"Having O’Leary make such ignorant comments only adds to this.
"I would urge him to come out and apologise today, and commit to informing himself about the real trauma of sexual violence."
Ryanair did not respond to a request for comment.
