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RYANAIR CEO MICHAEL O’Leary has said that he thinks child benefit is “subsidising people to have sex” and should be scrapped.
The airline boss said that the payment should be scrapped “for everybody”, acknowledging that his comments would probably get him into trouble with the women of Ireland.
Speaking at Knock Airport today, O’Leary suggested that benefits should target people on low incomes: ”You need to channel children’s allowance to people on lower incomes through income support schemes and single parent allowances,” O’Leary told Shannonside Radio.
This broad band of just giving everybody children’s allowance, it’s like the government subsidising people to have sex.
“Borrowing money from Europeans to give rich people in Ireland – or even people on average incomes – children’s allowance is an absurdity. I’ll get pilloried by the women of Ireland but frankly you don’t need it, and they’ll still have children whether they’re getting children’s allowance or not”.
The outspoken airline boss was asked for his view on the issue amid reports that the government is considering a €10 cut to the universal benefit in next month’s Budget.
Earlier today Social Justice Ireland said that it would be fairer to increase income tax on all high-income households equally than to reduce child benefit, saying that there was “no justification” for any cut to the allowance.
Child benefit has already fallen as a percentage of the weekly disposable income for people in the bottom income decile, according to the organisation.
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Why can’t it be scrapped and replaced with an educational allowance for kids in public schools in Ireland. That would eliminate claims from those living abroad.
That’s not a bad idea there Pat…
Pat ever consider running the country ? Most solid idea i have heard yet !
What about children who are not yet in school?
He’s right. Why should a family earning 100k get same child benefit as single parent?
It’s a crazy system which needs to be changed.
Agree totally child benefit should be abolished and given back in the form of a tax credit to people who are in PAYE system and as an additional payment to those on welfare.
He was asked his opinion this morning. He gave it. He lives and pays taxes in this country – surely his opinion is just as valid as everyone elses?
Just an idea from a mother of two wee ones…. But how about scrapping it and offering free health care for children under 16?
Because as much as it would be a great idea, would love to have it, but that would be far more expensive. A day or two of subsidised childcare would be nice too.
What really galls me is all those civil service creches built with public money, available to civil service children only, subsidised of course. Mine are not even permitted access if I paid full unsubsidised price. To a creche built with my taxes! Grrrr.
That would benefit more to working class but poorer people would have free heath care already there always seems to be a catch 22 with every decision that must be made they tend to take the easy option all the time rather then look for something to benefit Ireland’s future lazy way out. :)
Agree with him, it should be for people with low incomes.
ah F##k off o’leary you clown. All he’s after is free advertising. His crap service airline could do without all their extra charges but they don’t do they. They charge us €10 for a debit card transaction that cost them around 20 cent. Not hats a a real rip off !!
Cheapest airline I’ve ever travelled with. He does everything in the book to drive down costs which had increased competition. What’s the problem?
He tips of his employees to keep the prices down…now THAT is a problem
I don’t often agree with Michael o Leary but I do on this one.
It’s absolutely disgraceful that everyone in Ireland is entitled to the same children’s allowance, any household with an income above 100K should get nothing unless they have more than 3 children, then they should get allowance for the 4th child only, or something like that. Anyone with extreme wealth such as Michael O Leary etc should surely not be entitled any state allowance let alone the same allowance as a single mother or a family bringing only 40 or 50K into the house between them, it’s bizarre that the government haven’t sorted this out years ago. Is it because they’d lose their allowance for their own kids if they changed the rules? More than likely yes! You look at the bankers that were earning over half a million a year, they all collect children’s allowance and between them and our politicians they brought the country to its knees. It’s hard to believe that simple things like means testing children’s allowance hasn’t been seen as a way of saving tax payers money, this is another true reflection of the incompetent apes that are running the country with zero creativity. And before anyone comments I’m not a FF supporter, I don’t support any of them, they’re all as bad as each other. I have no love for Michael O Leary but my god he’d be better than what’s there now!
I don’t think that politicians want to keep child benefit as they are so that they can collect the money for themselves, surely €10 more a week won’t make a big difference to a banker or a politician.
My hunch is that the explanation is the same for which we don’t have metered water charges or a property tax based on the value of your home. To just give everyone child benefit irrespective of income is a lot easier than to means test it. Otherwise you would have to link the Revenue database with the Social Welfare database.
I think the issue here is the last time a minister came up with a money saving scheme that involved vat on kids clothes it cost his government their jobs. They are just scared to tackle anything that historically has cause upset
You are right that those with a certain income should be automatically excluded from the payment.
However the fear of people’s reaction to any change should be measured against the action taken. I’m sure most of lower and middle income families won’t be too sad to see those on large incomes get excluded thus actually making the decision a popular one!
Just think someone said he should be running the country!
The man oozes common sense. Something which is clearly lacking in European politics for some time now.
Maybe he shouldn’t be running the country, because it requires having more of a heart to the vulnerable.. but he should be put in charge of the public sector, all the state-run companies that are less efficient than a bureaucracy. There’s too much waste for not enough results in this country.
He’s right that it’s subsidizing sex, but, crucially, only one particular type of sex.
Surely it’s time we introduced welfare payments for a wider range of sexual positions and outcomes.
Hahahaha!
Claaaaaaaaaas paid
Amazing, when o leary even says something that makes sense now, people accuse him of trying to get free advertising. Loved the way he dressed it up tho, classic!
Fuck it, I’d still rather him run the country. Has anyone else in government actually made any bit of difference, that hasn’t made it harder for mid to low income families.
O Leary does get CB but his kids really need it for all the hidden extras he charges them
Love him or hate him – the bottom line is MoL knows how to make clever (but often controversial) cuts to make a mega successful company – I bet he could sort out the country’s financial situation and have it back on it’s feet in no time. He doesn’t have to be (or want to be I’m sure) a cuddly, well loved person and that is what the country needs right now – someone with good ideas, who’s not afraid to be heard. (by the way – I do not like the man either but you have to admit he has made travel accessible to a lot more people in Europe the last 10 or 15 years).
Hail o’duffy! Hail o’leary. Jesus protect us from our dormant nazis
Four words! Should be means tested!
That’s all folks!
I’ve been using the department of social welfares child benefit information leaflet SW-42 to pull birds for years now.. I haven’t been laid since 1993.
“right” as usual :)
More passengers for Ryanair so…
Michael O Leary in charge as dictator of Ireland for say five years would = utopia
Why waste energy on a self propelling media attention grab? Consider CB arrangements in other advanced EU States e.g. France. Would Michael suggest that it’s CB arrangements are necessary to promote sex?
Hard to believe that familes are not means tested for childrens allowance. A sliding scale could be a compromise. I dont understand overseas claimants. Are these parents of children working abroad wth children living in Ireland?
They are people working in Ireland with children living in their home country, yet they are entitled to claim for those children in Ireland.
Minister Joan Burton suggested changing it earlier on this year but was told no by the EC and her Polish counterpart. Why she just didn’t do it rather than asking I don’t know!
You don’t seem to agree with the right of Some people to freedom of speech and just because someone is a successful business man isn’t a good enough reason to criticise him with abusive language – you should sort out whatever is bothering you and don’t blame someone who made a very valid comment.
Wanker.
Maybe you are, but what is your comment.
Classic!
Thanks Michael, exactly what I was saying on here yesterday…
I wouldn’t mind if they means tested it as long as they means tested people’s outgoings as well as their income which isn’t always the case
Someone sit that man down and tell him about the birds and the bees…..he should have said *unprotected* sex.
He should know all a bout sex , he F@@ks everyone who buys a ticket for his airline
Yes because that’s what people are thinking of while their having sex, child benefit omg what planet has this man come from maybe everything involves money for this chap even in the bedroom department ;)
Ahh child benefit, a god given right…..
O’Leary would be delighted with that Alix. All his kids are under 16. A billionaire getting free health care for his kids is no different from a billionaire receiving Child Benefit. O’Leary and his kind simply don’t need Child benefit. The 10euro proposed reduction will make absolutely no difference to them. A family with a 400 euro pw income and a couple of kids will certainly know they’ve been hit. Disgraceful. This payment should be means tested before any cuts are even contemplated. As simple as that.
Are you on drugs? Did you read the article? You don’t seem to understand that he is saying exactly what you are saying.
Yeah, muppet. I read the article. “subsidising people to have sex”, “even people on average incomes”. It’s claptrap from a person who is simply not qualified, by nature of his obscene personal wealth, from commenting on the impact of the governments proposal and ordinary families. Understand my point???
I am sure you refrain from commentating when it comes to increasing tax rates on the rich. You have no idea what Michael O’Leary considers to be an average wage. He is extremely wealthy and works in aviation where many of the wages are above average so what he considers average and what really is average might be two different things.
Sorry, why is anybody entertaining the possibility that this is anything more than a cheap publicity trick by Michael O’Leary? He knows full well if he makes a controversial comment his name and the name of his airline will make it into the newspaper, for free! I doubt he gives a shite about the children’s allowance or much else beyond what directly effects his company’s profit.
Once every couple of months he floats a ludicrous rumour for the exact same reason – getting rid of toilets on aircraft, inflight porn, etc! When will the media stop giving this douche airtime?
What a hypocrite. O’Leary has 3 kids, as far as I’m aware, and comes from a family of 6. His personal fortune was estimated to be worth 500 million in 2009. Imagine, people like O’Leary are entitled to receive Child Benefit yet he would begrudge a family on low income receiving this support. What a muppet.
”You need to channel children’s allowance to people on lower incomes through income support schemes and single parent allowances,” O’Leary told Shannonside Radio.
Ah come on, did you even read the story?
Hugh, I thing you need to read the article.
If you listened to his interview today he said he has 4 kids and his family get the automatic children’s allowance and he disagrees with that. You don’t apply for it, you just get it no matter what. He said the whole thing should be scrapped and a newer system implemented to give children’s allowance to the families who need it. What’s wrong with that???
I d
No he doesn’t begrudge people anything. He want the CB channelled to those on low incomes. He makes perfect sense and is saying this against himself!
Hugh – you are entitled to an opinion – but you have a responsibility to make it an informed one. Read what O Leary said. He is making exactly the point you are calling him a muppet for. Who is a muppet now!
More advertising for himself and his airline…. like he
Gives a shit about childrens allowance
Who asked him the question?was it a ploy? Either way, the guy is a genius. over 8thousand views….
That’s my point Justin. He reckons people on “average incomes” should not receive Child Benefit. He’s obviously not living in the same Ireland as I am. He’s like most rich people. He thinks taxpayer’s money should only be given to those who are absolutely destitute or trying to start their own business.
What a LEGEND!!
Wonder why his wife applied for children’s allowance so? It’s quite the rigmarole sending off the forms/birth certs etc … if his wife didn’t want it she shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to apply for it …. FOUR times. Likewise any mother who doesn’t think they should receive it needn’t apply for it. Michael O’Leary doesn’t receive children’s allowance, the mother of his children does, regardless of his income.
Just a thought, he and his wife may not have been as wealthy when his children were born?
Apply for children’s allowance?? Ha ha. It’s paid automatically upon registration of the birth.
No rigmarole, check your facts before you post. What he said makes complete sense…
Ryan and John. Very strong, and very wrong! Eh, how do they get your bank details for the payment? His wife had to sign and complete the partially prepared forms. I think process also generates the PPS number fir the child – but it’s NOT an automatic process.
Btw, I don’t completely disagree with Mick but we need to ensure those in need don’t fall out of the system.
Why can’t it be means tested?
I think it’s because it would create all sorts of bureaucratic complications and the Civil Service is not equipped for it, but it would be great if someone who actually works there told us.
No, neuromancer, neither the last government or the current shambles of a government have done anything but hammer the lower and lower middle incomes families, but that just seems to be the latest political craze these days. Sacrifice the many to protect the prosperity of the (relatively) few. O’Leary wouldn’t know hardship if it crawled up his trouser leg and bit him on his pampered backside. How could he possibly be able to relate to the hardship of lower income families??
Looks like O’Leary is paying a bonus to every Ryanair employee to thumb in here in support of his remarks. Either that or every Tool in Ireland just happen to wander in….
and because he is wealthy he has lost his right to comment on government policy??
They should scrap the child benefit and us the money to fund services that are free for children of lower-income families. This was we would know that 100% of the money is spent on the children who need it.
It’s a disgrace that in this country there are no free, state-run crèches and preschools. The availability of preschool services to all children does a lot more for equality than giving money to parents. This is a well-known, well-researched fact.
“The strongest evidence suggests that economically disadvantaged children reap long-term benefits from preschool. However, children from all other socioeconomic backgrounds have been found to benefit as well. (…) Increasing public investment in effective preschool education programs for all children can produce substantial educational, social, and economic benefits.”
http://nieer.org/resources/research/PreschoolLastingEffects.pdf
Instead of giving parents money to be spent on anything from booze and fags to new cufflinks and an extra valet for the Lexus, the State should provide services for the children themselves.
Sorry, that should have been “use the money to fund services that are free…”
There are state run creches and preschools…. For children of the civil service only. This is one of the reasons it is not on the political agenda. It doesn’t effect them.
Classic
Sorry Ryan,but yes he does live here but he pays his taxes in The UK as Ryanairs registered office is there not here anymore, yes they do have offices here but according to the UK company register the main office is registered in the UK, but I do agree with him
Derek I think you’ll find Ryanair is Incorporated and registered in Ireland and he pays alot more tax than the €600 a month he receives in child benefit. Irrespective of how people feel about Ryanair and Michael O’Leary’s business acumen, he employs a lot of Irish people, creates a load of jobs and is a net contributor to the exchequer. I certainly don’t begrudge him it as if he wasn’t contributing at all how much more might the budgets need to be cut ?
Well said hanly ole boy
Well it’s not difficult to be right about this issue.
One of the main functions of child benefit was to alleviate child poverty. It is only paid to mothers and even within richer or middle class families women very often do not benefit from the wealth of their husbands. Many men still control the purse strings and don’t neccessarily share the benefit of their income.
And diong that doesn’t support the notion that women are for minding babies and nothing else?
I agree with Hugh, child benefit, should be means tested, that’s it.
So now you need to be poor AND have a family to make a point about child benefit!?!
You know maybe instead of giving out child benefit it could be given in vouchers for baby items such as nappies, baby food etc when they are under 2, subsidised creche for the 2 – 5 year olds and then FREE SCHOOL BOOKS, VOUCHERS FOR UNIFORMS AND HOT LUNCHES AT LUNCH TIME IN OUR SCHOOLS. Our children would then be getting at least one good hot meal in the middle of the day, making them less likely to be sick from not eating correct foods, parents who are struggling to put food on the table would not have to worry about the cost of lunches as that would be covered along with the books and uniforms and FREE DOCTOR ALSO FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER 16 AND OVER 16 IF STILL IN FULL TIME EDUCATION.
Well said paid ;)
Obviously donal ya don’t remember paying nearly a weeks wages to go to England, he says it as it is, child benefit is commonly known in some parts as ” Micky money” I could go on and on but I assure you, if some of the scum I know we’re to get say, €50 children’s allowance , they would think twice ( if that was even possible) of wearing there ankles around there ear…MOL could change this country, like him or not.
He really is an immature, attention-seeking, egotistical idiot at times
The trouble with means testing is that it will invariably mean that the middle to high earners miss out and sooner or later they resent that they are subsidizing the poor… Resentment leads to hostility and ideals of social cohesion fall away… In any case the subsidies are spent in the economy or taxed… Wealth redistributed back to the government anyway sooner or later
Form what I remember you have to apply to receive CB so MoL must have applied for it at some time in his poor past
Or maybe it was the mother of his children?
Thanks Ryan.
Poor auld Ireland!
Yet again as this absurd person has been out of the news, a few choice words to stir people up so he again is remembered, regardless if he believes what he says.Point achieved methinks, but I just cant remember who im ranting against!
@ Justin, totally agree with you!!! Does he even have a family himself?????
Why is his opinion on the subject newsworthy? Who cares what he thinks!?! He may be entitled to an opinion but to make a news story out of it? He’s just another rich person who has no clue about he real struggles of the ordinary people of Ireland. Some of us greatly depend on that money just to balance the books each month, we’re not on massive salaries like O’leary.
He is an eejit but he has a point, while I dont believe it should be scrapped, it should only go to those who need it not the rich
Two words…..means test! surely that’s the answer…won’t stop people having sex though!!!
Mick the mouth’s got a point. He’s always OTT with comments as he’s a natural publicist, but he’s canny enough at making money. It is ludicrous that the O’Leary family would be getting child benefit as there would be no apparent need for them with, presumably, a substantial income. Child benefit should be means tested so those who really need it do get it. All of it. Not cut by a tenner.
If child benefit is universal and automatically paid out, then you don’t honstly expect the wealthy to refuse it, do you? That’s why they are wealthy, because they never turn down a hand when there’s money in it.
Means testing is the only fair option to ensure the benefit is only paid to those who need it. And the only fair way to save money for he exchequer, NOT by taking it out of the mouths of the poor.
thats rich comming from a millionaire dont see him refuseing it
In any leaving cert geography book you can find Michael O’Leary’s point as the reason for child benefit. A cases study would be Japan where there is high child benefit to encourage an increase in Japan’s very low birth rate.
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