Ryan Tubridy says that he thinks climate campaigner Greta Thunberg should be watching movies or going for walks rather than speaking out on climate change.

Greta made an impassioned speech yesterday at the UN summit saying that world leaders have ‘stolen my dreams and my childhood’ by not doing more to protect the environment.

Speaking on his Radio One show this morning, Ryan Tubridy says he is worried for the Swedish activist and doesn’t think she should be in the spotlight.

‘I just don’t think she should be put on a stage that size. It’s not good for her health. Not good for her mental health or her well being,’ Ryan said about Greta.

‘Her face contorted in pain, in agony and in anxiety.

‘I was watching her and not thinking about the climate. I was thinking about my daughter and what would I do if I saw my sixteen-year-old’s face contorted talking about her childhood and live being robbed.’

Ryan also thinks that Greta’s Aspergers is being exploited and she is too vulnerable to be put on the world stage.

‘She has Aspergers and she’s now up for grabs,’ Ryan commented.

‘A sixteen shouldn’t be up for grabs.

‘I just don’t think she should be put on a stage that size. It’s not good for her health. Not good for her mental health or her well being.’

Ryan said that he would rather 16-year-old Greta be ‘brought home and watch a movie’

‘Just go for a walk with you ma or your da,’ Ryan advised.

‘Come back in a year or two.

‘I’d rather an 18-year-old did that.

‘I’d rather an 18-year-old spoke rather than a 16-year-old. I do understand it’s a youth-led movement but I just worry.

‘Is she alright and is she being minded?’

Responding to a text from a listener, Ryan questioned whether Greta had written her own speech for the event. He said: ‘I didn’t feel like it could come from her own pen.’

Ryan Tubridy’s comments about Greta Thunberg created huge backlash online, with many Irish Twitter users criticising Ryan for his comments.