Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, today (Mon, 26 Jan) called on Tánaiste Simon Harris to explain his weekend comments that Ireland and Europe “must be more competitive”, when his Govt have failed for 13 months to scrap the illegal Dublin Airport traffic cap, which is holding back growth and investment by Ryanair and U.S airlines at Dublin Airport, because of Govt inaction and uncertainty.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“Simon Harris talks the talk, but won’t walk the walk. His Govt Programme, published in Jan 2025, promised to scrap the Dublin Airport cap “as soon as possible”. Yet, while Simon Harris preaches about the need for “competitiveness”, his own Govt – with a 20-seat majority – have failed to take any action for 13 months now to scrap Dublin Airport’s traffic cap.

Ireland is now an international embarrassment. Airlines for America (A4A) submitted a complaint to the U.S Govt, demanding reciprocal action against Ireland for its failure to scrap this cap, which is preventing U.S airlines opening new routes and delivering more competitiveness here in Irish Aviation. As always, Simon Harris is great with the tweets, but short on taking action to deliver on his own Govt Programme.

Like his boss, Micheál Martin, less talk and more action would go a long way. He could start driving his competitiveness mission by explaining what he means by “as soon as possible” when it comes to scrapping the Dublin Airport cap. Nobody would believe that 13 months is “as soon as possible”. So perhaps Simon Harris should stop talking and actually take action to scrap the cap, and then his calls for competitiveness might have more substance. Empty vessels make the most noise, and this Govt, led by “Do Nothing” Martin and “Hopeless” Harris – when it comes to delivery – is just an empty vessel.”