Michael O’Leary calling rival airlines 'rapists' results in 'free advertising' for Ryanair - Harris
Tánaiste Simon Harris at the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party meeting, held at Amber Springs Hotel in Gorey, Co Wexford. Picture date: Thursday September 10, 2026.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said Michael O’Leary “knows exactly what he’s at” and that his comments calling rival airlines “rapists” has resulted in “free advertising” for Ryanair.
However, speaking to reporters at the start of the two-day Fine Gael think-in in Gorey, Co Wexford, Mr Harris did not say whether he believed he should apologise for the remarks.
He did, however, describe them as an “inappropriate use of language”.
“Michael O'Leary is clearly one of our country's best businessmen, but perhaps on this occasion he should listen to the experts,” the Tánaiste said.
“The experts who work with survivors and victims of rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment in this country. It is clearly an inappropriate use of language.
“I also think he knows exactly what he’s at. We're all here talking about Ryanair. It is free advertisement.”
When asked for a second time if he would like Mr O’Leary to apologise, Mr Harris once called on him to “listen to experts” and called on him to “rectify” what he branded an “inappropriate use of language”.
He continued: “There's been many out today; The Rape Crisis Centre, the National Women's Council of Ireland, and others.”
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Earlier today, Mr O’Leary was accused of “trivialising” rape after repeatedly describing rival airlines as “rapists”.
The outspoken airline chief used the term while attacking what he described as the high fares charged by airlines including Aer Lingus, Lufthansa and British Airways at a press conference in Dublin on Thursday.
He said it is “absolutely” appropriate to compare other airlines to “rapists” and 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 whether this was appropriate language, Mr O’Leary told reporters: “Absolutely.”
He was then challenged on whether it was offensive to victims of rape and sexual assault, and 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.”
His comments have provoked a furious response from survivors of sexual violence and organisations supporting victims.
Survivor Shaneda Daly, whose ex-prison officer father Harry Daly has the highest rape charges in the history of the State for abusing her, said she wants to meet the Ryanair chief executive to explain to him the reality of rape and the lasting impact it has on those who experience it.
She said rape changes people forever and questioned how such a violation could be compared to a disagreement over airline prices. She described O’Leary as “worse than Donald Trump”.
“The violation of your body being penetrated by something unwanted and the terror and unimaginable fear that will never leave you, being raped changes you forever, you will never feel safe again, your mental health is destroyed and how you have to fight for the rest of your life to try and live every day,” she said.
Sonya Stokes, a survivor of sexual violence and founder of Victims Voices, said she was “absolutely outraged” by the remarks.
“Rape is not a metaphor, a punchline or a business comparison,” she said, describing rape as a “reality involving trauma, fear and consequences that can last a lifetime”.
Ms Stokes called on Mr O’Leary to publicly apologise to victims and survivors of rape and sexual violence.
Another survivor, Laura Witherow, described Mr O’Leary’s remarks as “vile and indefensible”.
She said rape was “not a punchline, a clever insult or a word to throw around for publicity” and criticised him for continuing to defend the language after being challenged about its impact.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre also condemned the remarks.
Chief executive Rachel Morrogh said she was “dismayed” by what Mr O’Leary had said, describing his comments as “lazy and uninformed”.
She said it appeared the Ryanair boss was “chasing soundbites with no regard for how they may affect people”.
Ms Morrogh warned that language from high-profile public figures can contribute to the trivialisation and toleration of sexual violence.
She said Mr O’Leary’s comments would be “deeply hurtful and angering” for many survivors.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief said she would write to Mr O’Leary and offer him training on the harm caused by trivialising rape.
She said that, as one of Ireland’s most prominent business figures, he should “lead from the front” in what he says and does.
Ryanair has been contacted for comment.
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