Confront Corporate Cowboys such as O’Leary

dublin | worker & community struggles and protests | press release Wednesday June 02, 2004 18:56 by Andrew O'Connell - Sinn Fein aoconnell at sinnfeindsc dot com 347 Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 10. 016259320

A Sinn Féin representative has said that it is time to confront the culture of corporate arrogance in Ireland.

Sinn Fein's Andrew O’Connell who is tipped for a City Council seat in Dublin’s South West Inner City said:

“The arrogance of men such as Michael O’Leary appears to know no bounds and his sensationalist claims grow more colourful by the day. Only today he has predicted a “bloodbath” in the airline industry and that Ryanair will be “the last man standing”. This guy appears to think he’s starring in a John Wayne movie.

“The macho posturing of O’Leary, most evident in his attitude towards workers and unions, and his belief that he has the right to dictate government economic policy, is an example of everything that is wrong with corporate Ireland.

“We have witnessed scandal after scandal concerning banks and financial institutions in recent weeks and it is very clear that there is something sick at the heart of corporate Ireland. A corporate culture of arrogance has developed in this state over the years. This type of stuff is seen in countries which have been heavily dependant on external multinational investment and which have developed an unhealthy relationship between business and politics. These are the conditions in which white collar crime is rampant.

“The lack of real censure or punishment against white collar criminals compared to the sentences doled out to petty criminals with drugs or educational problems is leading to widespread cyncism against the whole idea of politics.

“ If Ireland is to move ahead in the 21st Century as a modern European state with respect for workers’ rights and clear blue water between political parties and big business, the likes of O’Leary should be faced down.

“The break up of Aer Rianta must be resisted. The moves towards privatisation or destruction of successful publicly owned companies such as Aer Riant and Dublin Bus is an example of the type of politics that encourages corporate arrogance. Let’s stand up to the bullies.”