We have the Common Travel Area with Ireland / Isle of Man / Chanel Islands which was in existence before the EU, and is still valid.
This is why Ireland is a different case.
I bet he didn't say that all his chat bots go silent when asked about a cash refund, that there is no button on the website, or link, to say that cash is your preference, or that it is impossible to get through on the phones ?
Ryanair are being absolute tossers about not giving people their money back for cancelled flights.
I hope they go bust, at least then I get 1 or 2 pence in the pound, and a different company can take take over their gap in the market.