Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin is under fire for his choice to fly business class from Dublin to New York then warning of the perils of climate change. In an ironic twist, his flight had to divert due to a bird strike.
Irish Taoiseach Criticized For Flying Business Class While Criticizing Others For Bearing No Personal Responsibility In Tackling Climate Change
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly last week, Martin lectured:
“We convene here at a time of crisis…When we see daily the devastating impacts of climate change, with those who bear no responsibility for its causes being most affected.”
The Irish press, however, noted that he flew business class from Dublin (DUB) to New York (JFK) to make his speech. So did most of his staff.
But of course, Martin claimed he was working:
“I’m working flat out, back to back, 24/7 in terms of working prior to getting on the plane and working after getting on a plane and getting straight to work when I get to the other side.”
He added, “There’s other ways we can offset. So this was within the guidance of this, within the guidance of the department.”
Ironically, his Aer Lingus flight to New York diverted to Dublin after striking a bird off the Irish coast. Later that evening, it departed again for New York. An Aer Lingus spokesperson explained:
“Aer Lingus flight EI107 operating from Dublin to New York JFK this afternoon was required to turn back when the aircraft experienced a bird strike shortly after take-off. The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport and all customers and crew safely disembarked. We plan to operate the flight later this evening on a replacement aircraft.”
In his defense, many world leaders flew on government planes to the meeting, emitting even more carbon. He flew commercial. But when politicians or celebrities chide others for their choices and then fly in premium cabins or private jets, it always makes me chuckle. I also wish to (again) draw your attention to this monologue from Bill Maher:
I have no problem with Martin flying business class. Certainly, he can justify it better than most, though I am not sure anyone actually needs to justify it. But his defensive justification proves that somehow, someway we better find an alternative to reducing greenhouse gasses (or their impact) that does not require cutting back personal consumption. Because if the Irish PM is unwilling to do his part, the middle class in Europe and the Americas and China and India won’t either. Do you think Europeans are not going to buy air-conditioners as the summers become unbearably hot? Unlikely.
CONCLUSION
I have no outrage over the Taoiseach of Ireland flying business class. I also understand his concerns over the environment. But his own actions prove that any meaningful cutbacks are just not realistic. Here’s to hoping technology like carbon capture and things we can only dream of right now might provide a more viable path than lecturing the world over its inability to do enough to curb carbon emissions while flying in business class.
How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.
But the Irish people don’t seem to be complaining about the fact that he was flying per se, they seemed to be complaining more about the fact that he was flying in business class, not economy.
“Mr Martin was responding to questions from reporters about department guidelines which state ministers and officials must fly economy where the flight is less than seven hours.
His delayed flight to the US this week was 6 hours and 45 minutes.”
I can see that you are quoting the concerns of others, so I’m not trying to argue directly with you on this point (I have no reason to stick up for the Irish Prime Minister)– but if one books an Aer Lingus or Delta nonstop flight from Dublin to JFK, the travel time listed at booking is around 7h 30m. How long the flight actually takes can vary, of course, and also it would seem to matter whether the relevant time for this regulation is time in flight or gate to gate.
they are crying about his woke hypocrisy.
That isn’t what they are complaining about, trollbot.
I have been reading up about renewables. There is not enough mining capacity to get all the materials we need to hit the goals that biden wants to hit. Or that paris accords want the world to hit. And actually mining these materials and then turning them into solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries will expend more fuel than we would have otherwise done. None of the AOCs of the world are actually working to reduce population or reduce deforestation. Two things with biggest bang with zero cost. It is impossible mathematically to meet the climate goals at the budget they are allocating. This is all just virtue signaling. I was naively toeing the liberal line until the energy crisis in Europe and california. These idiots have not planned this out well. And when I ranted about this on nextdoor, my rant was censored. Apparently you can’t even criticize goverment policy now. Chinese censors would have been proud of these liberal idiots in how conforming to official views and policies these liberal idiots are. This is all a bunch of money grab. I am more convinced about this now after the pandemic money grab.
Anyway, stop giving that old man a hard time for flying business class. Liberals are only good virtue signaling.
This is the first time you’ve made sense without being racist, anti-Semitic, ageist, etc. You address some of the issues I have with a lot of the climate issues on my side of the aisle as a liberal.
Good work for bringing up, but cut down on the name-calling and at least make an attempt for an apology for your racist comments on the “FAs mock disabled woman” post next time.
“This is the first time you’ve made sense without being racist, anti-Semitic, ageist, etc”
If i made sense while being racist, anti semitic or ageist then being all that was essential to my argument. If i didn’t make sense at all then you should have asked me nicely and i would have dumbbed it down for you.
Anyway, all that you need to understand is America is full of posers and fake people. They are busy posing as religious, as empathetic, as patriotic, as nice people or whatever the schtick de jure is. Some of them are, but most of them are fake. They only care about money in their pockets. And this is true on both sides of the aisle. Global warming is the cause de celebre for the left and national security for the right., but they are in it for the money.
Kid, I’m Canadian and not all Americans are bad. It’s the same for anyone from any country, race, ethnicity, religion, etc. There are good people and then there are horrible people like you.
You said in a previous post that “Some black dudes really deserve to be castrated considering how many kids they pop out.” No evidence and spewed propaganda from Nazis, defended it, and you acted like you were a victim. You justify being all of those terrible things for your “argument” and that’s the sole thing that makes you a clown.
Nice try haha.
It’s better than chartering a private plane.
Honestly what do these lunatics want? Still comes down to jealousy in most cases because they are lazy and unwilling to do what it takes to be successful in this world. Instead they want everything handed to them.
Sounds similar to the Mayor of New Orleans. City guidelines say economy class for city employees. Calculated she owes the city approximately $25k for business and 1st class trips to sister cities in Europe. First she stated that (I paraphrase) “women of color are not safe in the back of the plane”. Her backup claim is that the Mayor is exempt for the city travel rules, yet there is no written policy as such.
The city council wants to reduce her pay in the next fiscal year by the amount that is owned.
You couldn’t make it up!!
All the above available on Nola.com
Were you able to look into the UA/LH redemption issue? There still is no LH redemption on UA mileage plus
From UA:
“We are aware of this issue and are actively working with our partners to have the Lufthansa award option restored as quickly as possible.”
Gotta agree with Dave Edwards that at least he wasn’t flying in a private jet, unlike other world leaders out there.
If there are laws that prohibit him from flying in J, then he misused taxpayer money. But, certain world leaders get free upgrades by their national carrier out of courtesy- like South Korea‘s president or PM when flying Korean Air while in office. Just a little bit more context will definitely help us, the readers, with this.
the whole climate change nonsense is a lie.
Michael Martin being a Head of State, I do not have an issue with him or any other Head of State flying Business class if not for their security needs alone.
There are problems, Mr. Martin flying Business class is not one of them.
Actually, he’s head of government. The Irish President is head of state.
Greta is a puppet. I feel sorry for her.
So he would have contributed less emissions flying economy??? He flew a commercial airline, good for him, I think he should shame the other leaders to ditch their private planes and fly commercial too.
Steerage..right on!!
Erm……the class he flew would have no bearing on possible climatic impact
So the other business class passengers are innocent. Maybe they want to “impeach” the prime minister. (or ‘oust’ as they call it).
Don’t worry, Greta will get her way. By the time she is old and gray in 75 years, there will be all-electric hydrogen planes. But then she’ll have something else to complain about (at 100 years old).
The flight didn’t divert. It returned.