Mr O'Leary's comments came during a campaign launch for Peter Burke, as he voiced his opinions about the prevalence of teachers in the Dáil, stating, "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." This remark elicited laughter from the audience but sparked widespread backlash, particularly from educators and their representatives.
The Irish National Teachers Organisation criticized Mr O'Leary, declaring, "Teachers are the backbone of our country, shaping futures, inspiring minds, and driving the success of our society." They deemed his remarks outrageous and insulting to teachers' dedication and efforts.
Taoiseach Simon Harris responded to O'Leary's statements by asserting, "Teachers are really the backbone of Irish society, of our communities, and I'm not sure there's many people who'd last five minutes standing at the front of a class." He emphasized the need for diversity in the Dáil.
While acknowledging Mr O'Leary's success in business, Taoiseach Harris maintained that the Dáil benefits from a variety of backgrounds, stating, "the Dáil needs diversity, the Dáil needs a mix of people" to truly represent society.
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