O'Leary calls for consumer agency to be abolished
Thursday August 28 2008
RYANAIR boss, Michael O'Leary, has called for the abolition of the National Consumer Agency claiming it is nothing but an expensive bunch of "noddies" and "plonkers".
The budget airline boss admitted he was "astonished" that the NCA opted not to get involved in Ryanair's row with various so-called screen scraper websites to protect consumer rights in Ireland and Europe.
He revealed that the agency had written to Ryanair immediately after it confirmed it would cancel any bookings made with it via 'screen-scraper' websites as invalid.
Yesterday, Michael O'Leary said such websites were operating illegally -- and were exploiting consumers by applying hidden charges onto flights.
O'Leary said he was incredulous that, having responded in detail to the agency's concerns and pointed out how Irish consumers were being impacted by the screen-scraper sites, he was told it was not a matter for the NCA.
"Frankly, we think the whole thing should be disbanded -- whoever it is who earns €190,000 a year as chief executive should be sacked. Get rid of the rest of the political appointees, disband it and use the money for funding children's education or hospitals," he said.
"It is extraordinary -- we got a letter (from the NCA) saying this is terrible, you are cancelling passenger bookings," Mr O'Leary added.
But when Ryanair made a detailed reply and asked for the NCA's support in terms of consumer rights, they refused to get involved.
- Ralph Riegel
