Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, has said that Paschal Donohoe needs to come clean on the details of a meeting the Minister had with Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.

Pearse Doherty said:

“Paschal Donohoe is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Michael O’Leary is a business figure who is regularly seeking to influence government policy.

“It is important for the Irish people to know whose interests their government really serves.

“We previously saw reports alleging that Paschal Donohoe, in a confidential telephone call, had given assurances to Israel that economic penalties on Israel would not be imposed over its conduct against Palestinians.

“Fine Gael in government is poor on transparency and poor on accountability.

“So far, Paschal Donohoe has failed to shed light on the details of a private – and previously undisclosed – dinner meeting which he attended with Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary in February 2022.

“When first contacted by journalists about whether he had met Michael O’Leary earlier this month, the Minister’s office did not disclose the dinner meeting until after they were approached again with more information about its timing.

“We have now been told by Fine Gael that no records were kept of the meeting as no actions were taken arising from it. That’s not good enough.

“Fine Gael says that the meeting was attended by another unnamed person. Who was that person?

“We have already witnessed Mr O’Leary launch the campaign of a Fine Gael election candidate in which he made disparaging remarks about our teachers and was cheered to the rafters by Fine Gael members in attendance.

“It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael O’Leary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government.

“I think, particularly in light of the brazen or mistruths on policy issues in recent days by Fine Gael, including their attempts to distance them from their own decisions in government – a bit of transparency from them now wouldn’t go astray.

“It is my belief that Paschal Donohue needs to come out, allay suspicions and outline the nature and detail of his meeting with Michael O’Leary.”