Michael Healy-Rae blames brother for Kerry losing minister of state

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Michael Healy-Rae has blamed his brother for events which led to his resignation as a minister of state in the wake of the fuel protests.

Healy-Rae said Kerry, which both men represent as TDs, was “served badly” by comments from his brother Danny Healy-Rae, which led to the end of their deal with the coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, along with other independents.

Both Healy-Raes voted against the Government in a confidence motion in April, with Michael resigning as minister of state with responsibility for forestry at the Department of Agriculture. Danny was later removed as a member of the Agriculture Committee.

Michael said on Tuesday that an interview Danny gave to Radio Kerry at the time “cost Kerry” the ministry in agriculture, adding: “That is an absolute fact and it is very disappointing.”

He added: “Team Healy-Rae has been damaged by this.”

Danny had expressed “outrage” over the Government’s response to the fuel protests, including the scale of cuts in costs of green diesel, and called for the leadership of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to be replaced.

In an interview on the same station on Tuesday, Michael said it had been the “toughest political chapter in my book” but that he had not been “knocked out”.

He said he “loved” his minister of state position and had been “relishing the role”.

Healy-Rae said he was not “blamed for” what happened and, when asked why he resigned, said: “I didn’t give it up, I gave nothing up.”

He had even made a social media video on Sunday saying he would vote confidence in Government but said: “Unfortunately, it started here. A fire was lit here on the Monday, which I wasn’t aware of.”

He added: “I had been trying everything in the world, and I tried vehemently to try and put things right, but a fire was started, I couldn’t stop it.”

He said his brother’s interview had “cost Kerry a ministry in agriculture”.

Healy-Rae said it was “not the place” for an independent to tell a parliamentary party what to do, particularly one that had “shook hands” on an agreed programme for government.

He said the coalition had been honouring the deal and he was now “worried about Kerry” potentially being adversely affected by future cuts.

The former minister of state said he had achieved progress on the Killarney bypass and rules on short-term letting as well as other enhanced services in Kerry.

Asked if he was sacked by Government, he said he was “sacked on Radio Kerry – because that started it”. He said all that was needed was “political backbone” and “to stay the course”.

Healy-Rae said his brother’s comments “did not make sense”, did not achieve anything and “started something I couldn’t stop”.

He said he was “upset” and “pulled overboard” by the comments.

Healy-Rae said there had been no “blazing row”, “personal row”, or “nastiness” between him and his brother.

However, he added: “I’m personally very upset – not personally on my behalf – but on the behalf of the people of Kerry.”

Healy-Rae said he would have to be “careful and prudent” about making a “deal with somebody” in the future.

He said there would be “soul-searching” ahead of the next elections, adding: “I do hope this won’t damage us with the electorate.”