Michael Healy-Rae
Michael Healy-Rae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Kerry South |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Independent |
Michael Healy-Rae is an independent politician in Ireland. He was elected at the general election in February 2011 to the 31st Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Kerry South.[1]
Family life
He is the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae, who was a TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011, and a brother of Councillor Danny Healy-Rae who represents the Killarney electoral area on Kerry County Council. His nephew Johnny Healy-Rae is also a County Councillor. His mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but grew up in New York City.[2]
Local politics
Healy-Rae is a former member of Kerry County Council, and was first elected to the Council at the 1999 local elections, representing the Killorglin electoral area.[3] He retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 local elections.[3][4]
In Autumn 2007, Michael Healy-Rae took part in the Celebrities Go Wild charity television show on RTÉ and emerged as the winner having received the largest number of votes from the viewing public. In June 2011, it was revealed that this included 3,636 votes from a phone in Leinster House at a cost of €2,600 to the Irish taxpayer, as it was a premium line according to the Irish Daily Mail[5] and made over 31 hours according to the Irish Independent.[6] The Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett described it as "an outrageous abuse of facilities", while the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the money spent on the calls should be paid back.[7] On 29 June 2011, Healy-Rae said that while he was not involved in the calls, he would pay the money back.[7]
National politics
Healy-Rae was elected in the Kerry South constituency at the 2011 general election when his father Jackie retired from national politics. Along with Michael Lowry and Noel Grealish, he is not a member of the Dáil Technical group.
Healy-Rae was appointed to the board of the Citizens' Information Board in April 2009. He was written to twice to resign his position from the board because of a conflict of interest between his subsequent membership of the Dáil and his membership of a body advising the Minister for Social Protection. After he refused to resign, the Minister dismissed him in July 2011.[8][9]
Healy-Rae missed two-thirds of votes in his first Dáil term, despite being signed in for his expenses on each day a vote was taken.[10]
On 9 December 2011, Healy-Rae was taken ill in the chamber and treated by Health Minister James Reilly before being dispatched to St. James's Hospital in an ambulance from Leinster House.[11][12]
In January 2012, Healy-Rae proposed changing Ireland's number plate system so that the number "13" would be dropped for the year 2013 in order to save the Irish car industry.[13][14]
References
- ^ "Mr. Michael Healy-Rae". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Majella (1 March 2011). "Trip to 'motherland' changed Irish politics forever". Irish Independent.
- ^ a b "Michael Healy-Rae". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ "We pay €1,300 every time Michael Healy-Rae comes to Dublin". TheJournal.ie. 14 September 2010.
- ^ "Inquiry into Dáil calls to TV show sought". RTÉ News. 28 June 2011.
- ^ Sheahan, Fionnan (1 August 2011). "Dail TV call blitz took 31 hours". Irish Independent.
- ^ a b "Healy-Rae to pay phone money". The Irish Times. 29 June 2011.
- ^ Cullen, Paul (4 July 2011). "Healy-Rae remains silent over his removal from board". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Michael Healy-Rae removed from State agency". RTÉ News. 3 July 2011.
- ^ Kelly, Fiach (2 August 2011). "TDs check in for Dail cash but not for votes: Healy-Rae among poorest records". Irish Independent.
- ^ "Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae hospitalised". RTÉ News. 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Michael Healy-Rae hospitalised after taking ill in the Dáil". TheJournal.ie. 9 December 2011.
- ^ Reilly, Gavan. "Drop '13′ from next year's numberplates to save car industry, urges Healy-Rae". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ "Written Answers - Motor Industry". Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 752, No. 2, pp.62. Oireachtas. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.