Poll: Would you like to see more CEOs in the Dáil?

Some think if you have the know-how to run a multi-million euro company, you can run a country.

By Conor McMahon Deputy editor, Fora

RYANAIR BOSS MICHAEL O’Leary is no stranger to making bold statements that generate dozens of news stories – and tonnes of free publicity for his low-cost airline.

Over the years, he has unleashed the full force of his opinions on travel agents, who he said should be shot; trade unionists, or “lunatics”; and, most recently, RTÉ, which he described as a “North Korean rat-infested union shop”.

Some people like his humorous, straight-talking approach and reckon the country would be better run if he was taoiseach.

The same is often said of business people in general: if they can run a multi-million euro company, then surely they can manage an entire country. Their boardroom etiquette, or lack thereof, might liven things up.

That’s similar to the pitch made in favour of the Republican candidate in the US presidential elections, Donald Trump, who has zero political experience. But just because he has accumulated a massive property empire doesn’t make him automatically fit for office.

Ireland has had its own share of business people who have entered politics. Most notably, Superquinn founder Fearghal Quinn served in the Seanad for more than two decades.

Ex-Dragon Sean Gallagher was also just a tweet away from becoming the president of Ireland. His campaign, derailed by an infamous live debate on RTÉ Frontline, was largely based on the fact that his business savvy would make him a suitable head of state.

With all that in mind, we’re asking Fora readers this week: Would you like to see more CEOs in the Dáil?