Watch: 'Full-time beef farmer and part-time airline CEO' - O'Leary
He may be the boss of one of Europe’s largest airline groups but according to Michael O'Leary he considers himself "a full-time beef farmer and a part-time airline chief executive".
"I only run the airline so I can put the money into the beef cattle," O'Leary told Agriland today (Friday, March 7) in Dublin.
Agriland caught up with the Ryanair CEO and Co. Westmeath-based beef farmer at the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition finals which took place at Croke Park today.
The "part-time airline" boss is set to host his annual Gigginstown Angus on-farm sale on Easter Saturday (April 19) with a selection of pedigree Angus bulls and heifers on offer.
Commenting on his involvement in the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition, O'Leary said: "I'm very proud to support the Certified Irish Angus Schools Competition.
"I think it's great to encourage school children to get involved.
"Five of the schools are rearing Angus calves for the two years and do a research project and you really see some very bright, talented people coming through."
He said: "I am very proud to be associated with the production of Angus beef here in this country and I think the Certified Irish Angus beef programme has been one of the great success stories in Irish food production over the last decade."
Agriland asked the airline CEO - who runs a pedigree Angus suckler herd in Co. Westmeath - for his views on star ratings and indices.
O'Leary said: "I think they're a good idea but it's the lack of consistency. Everybody was producing cattle with four or five stars and then at the stroke of a pen, they changed the ratings again.
"So it lacks consistency and I think if it hasn't got consistency, you undermine the credibility of the programme.
"I think if they're going to continue with the star system, I think they're going to have to stop changing it and stop making these arbitrary changes which drive farmers like myself mad."
The Ryanair CEO ,who has strong views on the current passenger cap at Dublin Airport, was asked if he feels the same way about restrictions on farmers in the form of the nitrates derogation.
O'Leary said: "I think we have to continue to produce high-quality food here.
"Things like the nitrates directive, I think Ireland should have a derogation from it.
"We encourage farmers to spread manure at the appropriate times of the year, that's all part of the circular and sustainable beef sector and circular and sustainable agriculture."
