Michael O'Leary - his view on paternity leave.

Cian92 · 09-11-2013 04:55PM #1

Micheal O'Leary has come out and said he doesn't believe in paternity leave for fathers. Basically he says the job of washing, feeding and changing a baby is the role of the Mother and the Father should be in work providing for his family.

Most women if given the choice would actually stop working when they have young children, according to straight-talking Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.

Shooting from the hip as ever, the father of four let rip at political correctness and at the growing numbers campaigning for paid paternity leave.

Mr O’Leary said he is driven "mad" by the notion of paternity leave — "the idea that the father can now skip off for a few weeks".

He didn’t take any time off when his children were born.

"I couldn’t wait to get back to work. I don’t want to be at home with young babies, breastfeeding and changing nappies.

"That is not my function in life. This bonding stuff is rubbish... Men tend to bond with their children when they are walking, talking, following football, then we have something to say to them. When they are 0-9 months, all they are interested in is milk and mammaries."

Pouring scorn on the men who lament their inability to enjoy those early months with their babies, he said: "The fathers who feign interest at that stage are just making it up.

"I did the first nappy in the hospital and that was pretty much the only one... we sow the seed, women have the babies and after that we provide. It’s all biological."

In the wide-ranging interview with the London Times, Mr O’Leary said: "Women should work. Arab societies where they suppress women are simply doomed to failure."

He does agree, though, with many feminists when it comes to burkas — he’s against their growing acceptance in the Western world.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/text/ireland/cweysnauqlgb/

Is it just me or is this a very backward view? I'd be in favour of a minimum amount of leave for each parent and the rest spread out between the two parents, and leave it up to the parents to decide who gets it. It doesn't make sense to only give the leave to the Mother, people will say she is the one who goes through the pregnancy but just look at adoptive leave, it is still the Mother who receives the bulk of the leave and not the Father despite the fact that neither are going through a pregnancy.

Mike 1972 · 09-11-2013 04:59PM

Would the typical male employee of Ryanair be paid enough so that his wife or partner could choose not to work if she so chooses ?

BNMC · 09-11-2013 05:01PM

Dead right.

The world is gone PC mad!

Agricola · 09-11-2013 05:02PM

He's so long saying controversial stuff in order to garner media attention and drum up business that its just his normal mode of communication at this stage.

timthumbni · 09-11-2013 05:06PM

Cian92 wrote: »

Micheal O'Leary has come out and said he doesn't believe in paternity leave for fathers. Basically he says the job of washing, feeding and changing a baby is the role of the Mother and the Father should be in work providing for his family.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/text/ireland/cweysnauqlgb/

Is it just me or is this a very backward view? I'd be in favour of a minimum amount of leave for each parent and the rest spread out between the two parents, and leave it up to the parents to decide who gets it. It doesn't make sense to only give the leave to the Mother, people will say she is the one who goes through the pregnancy but just look at adoptive leave, it is still the Mother who receives the bulk of the leave and not the Father despite the fact that neither are going through a pregnancy.

Michael o'leary in another "look at me, I'm mad as feck" publicity stunt. He may be a one trick pony but he is dammed good at his one trick.

Paternity leave for me was as much about helping out mum than anything else.

dd972 · 09-11-2013 05:07PM

Que picture of MOL with some stupid gurning face and arms spread out Aeroplane style pose.

Cian92 · 09-11-2013 05:15PM

Agricola wrote: »

He's so long saying controversial stuff in order to garner media attention and drum up business that its just his normal mode of communication at this stage.

I specifically didn't quote the article that the sindo did on his views on paternity leave for Fathers as it spends so fecking long harping on about all the changes Ryanair are making, at least the Examiner kept as much as possible of that advertising out of the article.

StupidLikeAFox · 09-11-2013 05:22PM

Ive heard other men express this view too, he is entitled to his opinion

wp_rathead · 09-11-2013 05:27PM

Cian92 wrote: »

Is it just me or is this a very backward view

No it is a very backward view...

He must have felt uncomfortable with Ryanair having a "nicer" PR image so had to come out with this sh1te to keep up his "bad guy" image

Wompa1 · 09-11-2013 05:28PM

He's got a point. Just because we are 'intelligent' we tend to think we're above our 'primal instincts'

Hello_MrFox · 09-11-2013 05:35PM

I can see his point.

OldRio · 09-11-2013 05:35PM

Heaven help us if we try and evolve.

Anyhoots, off out to hunt. Then make fire.
Wife is near the stream beating the washing with stones.

Fecking berries for the dinner. Again.

Detective Mittens · 09-11-2013 05:46PM

Lots of female pilots "fail" the Ryanair selection process.

Sam Kade · 09-11-2013 05:48PM

He likes to keep himself in the limelight I wouldn't always agree with what he says but he is telling the truth this time.

jonsnow · 09-11-2013 05:51PM

Michael OLeary uses controversial statement to garner free publicity shocker!!!:eek:

The Diabolical Monocle · 09-11-2013 05:53PM

Put your hands up for Oleary dont the world seem dreary when y'all ni**s got a query, no phones for yo hoes I gets mo - staff calendar bitches and mo dough, I drive maybach, you may not get back, assigned seating - all y'all be smokin crack, be at the gate or ya'll commiserate aint no time for bitches who late.
Lear jet O'leary, man in the sky, paternity leave? brotha you high, man is promiscuous, paternity leave ridiculous, y'all serve sandwiches or y'all got testiculas ?

The Big Smoke · 09-11-2013 05:54PM

I would say it's a reason to avoid Ryanair but I don't need one.

hatrickpatrick · 09-11-2013 06:00PM

Michael O'Leary saying something incendiary and moronic? It can't be! Who is he and what has he done with the real Michael O'Leary? :rolleyes:

clairefontaine · 09-11-2013 06:03PM

Ok so we are now in a day and age where holding a traditional opinion is now "controversial."

Sorry folks this is not controversial. A lot of people believe and do this, men and women alike.

The Big Smoke · 09-11-2013 06:11PM

clairefontaine wrote: »

Ok so we are now in a day and age where holding a traditional opinion is now "controversial."

Sorry folks this is not controversial. A lot of people believe and do this, men and women alike.

Whether people believe in it or not, the laws need to be fair to both genders.

RobertKK · 09-11-2013 06:14PM

Like it or not, in nature it is the mother who is the most important to the offspring, there should only be paternity leave when men can use their own nipples for breastfeeding...

clairefontaine · 09-11-2013 06:16PM

The Big Smoke wrote: »

Whether people believe in it or not, the laws need to be fair to both genders.

I suppose when men give birth it would become an equality issue.

Just as breast feeding in public will become an issue for them when they eventually start lactating.

hfallada · 09-11-2013 06:18PM

Michael O Leary will say anything to get into the papers and its works. He is like the Paris Hitlon/Kim Kardashian of Ireland. He is always in the media, even if its something tiny

Sam Kade · 09-11-2013 06:25PM

hfallada wrote: »

Michael O Leary will say anything to get into the papers and its works. He is like the Paris Hitlon/Kim Kardashian of Ireland. He is always in the media, even if its something tiny

Roy Keane is similar talking about that hand ball and saying people should get over it. If he only had that attitude in Saipan

Fr_Dougal · 09-11-2013 06:27PM

I'm sure the bastions of equal rights, the feminists, will be up in arms over O'Leary's comments.

The Big Smoke · 09-11-2013 06:28PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

I'm sure the bastions of equal rights, the feminists, will be up in arms over O'Leary's comments.

LOL good one.

D1stant · 09-11-2013 06:28PM

Sam Kade wrote: »

Roy Keane is similar talking about that hand ball and saying people should get over it. If he only had that attitude in Saipan

I'd reckon Keane got over that in May 2002. It's just everyone else wants to drag it up.

Fighting Irish · 09-11-2013 06:30PM

Agricola wrote: »

He's so long saying controversial stuff in order to garner media attention and drum up business that its just his normal mode of communication at this stage.

Sure why not, it works every time

09-11-2013 06:32PM

The Big Smoke wrote: »

Whether people believe in it or not, the laws need to be fair to both genders.

Fair, yes. Equal only when men can get pregnant, give birth and feed their young.

Cian92 · 09-11-2013 06:37PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Fair, yes. Equal only when men can get pregnant, give birth and feed their young.

This is my major gripe with maternity leave being much more favourable than paternity leave. If the main reason for maternity leave was for feeding the baby and giving birth, why is it that adoptive leave is the same length as maternity leave and only available to the woman?

LionelNashe · 09-11-2013 06:39PM

"Most women if given the choice would actually stop working when they have young children, according to straight-talking Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary."

In support of this view, I think it's true that most women do make full use of paid maternity leave; so given the choice between being paid to stay at home with young children or being paid to go into the office, they stay at home. Doesn't this mean he's right on this point?

Michael O'Leary - his view on paternity leave.

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