Fine Gael minister distances himself from Michael O’Leary comments about teachers at campaign event

Mr O’Leary spoke at a campaign launch event in Mullingar for Enterprise Minister Peter Burke when he made the joke about teachers in the Dáil.

Mr O’Leary based part of his endorsement on Mr Burke’s background in the private sector, as he criticised TDs who were teachers in the past.

“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, drawing laughter from the assembled audience.

Video of the remarks began circulating online, and Sinn Féin was among those who were heavily criticial.

“Teachers get the job done every day in the classroom for our children, and I think it is completely inappropriate that they were jeered and demeaned in the way that they were at a Fine Gael event,” Ms McDonald said at a Save Moore Street event in Dublin on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s hard enough to get teachers into our classrooms at this time, so I really…