Michael Healy-Rae
Michael J. Healy-Rae (born 9 January 1967) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry constituency since 2016, and from 2011 to 2016 for the Kerry South constituency. He served as a Minister of State from January 2025 until his resignation in April 2026. He served as chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs from 2016 to 2020. Before entering national politics, he was involved in local politics in County Kerry and pursued business interests.
Michael Healy-Rae | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Healy-Rae in 2023 | |
| Minister of State | |
| 2025–2026 | Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine |
| Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs | |
| In office 4 April 2016 – 15 September 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Dominic Hannigan |
| Succeeded by | Joe McHugh |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Kerry |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Kerry South |
| Kerry County Councillor | |
| In office June 1999 – February 2011 | |
| Constituency | Killorglin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 January 1967 Kilgarvan, County Kerry, Ireland |
| Party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Eileen Healy-Rae (m. 1989) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Danny Healy-Rae (brother) |
| Alma mater | Limerick Institute of Technology |
Michael J. Healy-Rae[1] (born 9 January 1967) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry constituency since 2016, and from 2011 to 2016 for the Kerry South constituency. He served as a Minister of State from January 2025 until his resignation in April 2026. He served as chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs from 2016 to 2020.[2]
Before entering national politics, he was involved in local politics in County Kerry and pursued business interests.[3]
Family life
[edit]He is the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae, who was a TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011; and the brother of Danny Healy-Rae, who is also a TD. His mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., but grew up in New York City.[4] He has 5 children, two of whom were found guilty and convicted of assault charges in 2019.[5] His son, Jackie Healy-Rae Jnr, was elected as a councillor for Castleisland local electoral area at the 2019 Kerry County Council election.[6]
Local politics
[edit]Healy-Rae was first elected at the 1999 Kerry County Council for the local electoral area of Killorglin.[7] He retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 Kerry County Council election.[7][8] He served on the council until his election to the Dáil in 2011.
Reality television
[edit]In autumn 2007, Michael Healy-Rae took part in a reality television show on RTÉ called Celebrities Go Wild, set in the "unforgiving landscapes" of Connemara, County Galway. He emerged as the winner, having received the largest number of votes from the "viewing public". In June 2011, news broke of a voting scandal, for which journalist Senan Molony received the award for "Scoop of the Year" at the National Newspapers of Ireland's Journalism Awards.[9][10] It was revealed that Healy-Rae had received 3,636 votes from a phone in Leinster House, at a cost of €2,600 to the Irish taxpayer, the premium-rate calls being charged a tariff designed to raise money for charity.[11] Only limited information was available as to how the calls were made. Speculation that an automated dialler had been employed was discounted by the Irish Independent, which suggested they were made over 31 hours using "redial".[12] 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.[13] On 29 June 2011, Healy-Rae said that while he was not involved in the calls, he would pay the money back.[13]
In October 2017, Healy-Rae appeared on Livin' with Lucy.[14]
National politics
[edit]
Healy-Rae was elected for Kerry South at the 2011 general election, when his father Jackie retired. He, like fellow Independents Michael Lowry and Noel Grealish, were not members of the Technical group in the 31st Dáil. He missed two-thirds of votes in his first Dáil term, despite being signed in for his expenses on each day a vote was taken.[15]
Healy-Rae had been appointed to the board of the Citizens' Information Board in April 2009. He was asked 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.[16][17]
On 9 December 2011, having earlier participated in a debate on social welfare, he took ill at Leinster House and was advised to leave the Dáil chamber. Health minister James Reilly, a medical doctor, tended to him outside the chamber, he was brought from Leinster House on a stretcher, placed in an ambulance and rushed to St. James's Hospital.[18][19]
Healy-Rae has raised The Hum in Dáil Éireann after witnessing it himself while meeting some of his constituents who were "nearly gone out of their minds" with it. The official response he received, was described by Healy-Rae as "away with the fairies gobbledygook."[20]
He topped the poll in Kerry at the 2016 general election; his brother Danny was elected alongside him. This was the first time that two siblings were elected to the Dáil for the same constituency.[21] A short while later, on the evening of 20 March 2016, Michael Healy-Rae experienced being unintentionally "tossed around by a cow" who was after calving in a shed at his farm near Kilgarvan. He was taken to hospital with his injuries.[22]
At the 2020 general election, he topped the poll again, and was re-elected on the first count.[23][24]
In May 2020, he called for the Leaving Certificate exams in 2020 to be cancelled due to COVID-19, in contrast to his brother Danny who said that the exams should go ahead in 2020 with proper social distancing, possibly using public buildings such as community centres and libraries.[25]
On 9 April 2024, following the resignation of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, Michael was nominated for the position by his brother, Danny Healy-Rae. He was the only candidate to oppose Simon Harris, who was elected by 88 votes to 69.[26]
At the 2024 general election, Healy-Rae was re-elected to the Dáil, topping the poll in Kerry.
In January 2025, Healy-Rae was appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for forestry, at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Accepting the position, he stated that he would stick with the Government "through thick and thin".[27][28][29] On 14 April 2026, in the aftermath of the fuel protests, he resigned as a minister of state, saying the government had lost touch with the people.[30][31]
Political views
[edit]His political platform includes opposition to tighter controls on drinking and driving.[32] His father and brother have also expressed similar views on such legislation.[33] In 2018 Healy-Rae stated that he did not believe Ireland had a major alcohol problem, countering claims from anti-alcohol campaigners highlighting the country's position as 20th in alcohol consumption within the OECD. Healy-Rae has defended Irish pub culture, seeing it as an important social space for conversation and community.[34]
In January 2012, Healy-Rae proposed changing Ireland's number plate system so that the supposedly unlucky number 13 would be dropped for the year 2013 to save the Irish car industry.[35][36]
On social issues, Healy-Rae was opposed to the smoking ban, arguing that elderly smokers were forced outside in harsh conditions. On cannabis, Healy-Rae expressed support for its medicinal use but remained opposed to its legalisation for recreational purposes. He has also criticised the Swedish model of criminalising the purchase of sex, asserting that the protection of individuals working in the sex trade was paramount, though he refrained from offering a definitive stance on the legislation itself.[34]
Healy-Rae voted against same-sex marriage in the 2015 referendum. He stated that his decision was based on personal conviction rather than animosity towards the LGBT community, emphasising that he had never intended to impose his views on others. Healy-Rae has maintained that he prefers children to be raised in a traditional family structure, though he acknowledged the complexity of family dynamics. He was also opposed to same-sex couples adopting children.[34]
Healy-Rae opposes abortion, including in circumstances such as rape. He also opposed euthanasia, citing a belief that only God should decide the time of death.[34]
Property development
[edit]In February 2018, Healy-Rae listed 11 properties for letting or rental and two either being renovated or awaiting planning permission in the register of TDs' interests.[37]
In March 2020, it was reported that he had added three properties to his portfolio in the 2019 Register of Members' interests, bringing the number of properties to 21.[38] The three new properties include a house in Clonkeen for which purchase was going through contract stage, a house in Tralee at the same stage and a property in Kilgarvan that is in the process of being renovated.[38]
In May 2020, he was refused planning permission to convert the ground floor of Nancy Myles Pub in the Ballymullen area of Tralee.[39] The plan was for four apartments and had met with strong local opposition.[39] The council's decision was appealed by a number of locals and a conservation organisation.[39] The majority of the decision to refuse was based on the grounds that the proposal would not allow the residents enough natural light or amenity standards.[39] It was the second time the appeals board has overturned a decision by Kerry County Council to grant him a change of use for the pub.[39]
In February 2021 the Register of Members Interests was published, covering 2020, revealing that he remained the largest landlord in the Dáil, with 5 plots of land, 16 properties.[40] A quarter of TDs are landlords or property investors.[40]
In March 2025, the 2024 Register of Members Interests was published, where Healy-Rae declared himself the owner of almost 30 properties of land including houses owned for rental purposes, as well as contracts with the Department of Integration for accommodating Ukrainian refugees and a HAP contract with Kerry County Council.[41]
Other business interests
[edit]He has listed in the register of TDs interests that he is a postmaster, farmer, plant hire business operator and shop owner.[37] His plant-hire business has worked for the Health Service Executive and he has a contract for providing fuel to Kerry County Council.[37] In March 2026, he was reported as being Ireland's richest TD.[42]
In May 2020, a complaint was lodged with the clerk of the Dáil over his failure to declare his interest in The Skellig Hotel Experience, a company that ran the Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen.[43] He had a 25% share in the company after investing €25,000 in January 2019, but there was no entry for his shareholding on the Oireachtas Register of Interests.[43] Oireachtas members are required to declare any shareholding over €13,000.[43] When controversy over the leasing of the hotel Michael Healy-Rae said that he was not involved in the leasing of the hotel, but he later accepted the Skellig Hotel Experience held the lease.[43]
The company was sold in December 2019 to Paul Collins who runs direct provision centres.[43] Michael Healy-Rae was adamant that he had no knowledge that it would be converted into a direct provision centre.[43]
Other
[edit]In December 2019, he was transferred to hospital after a fire at his shop.[44]
Publications
[edit]- Time to Talk: Stories from the Heart of Ireland. Ireland: Gill. 2018.
- A Listening Ear: More Stories from the Heart of Ireland. Ireland: Gill. 2019.
References
[edit]- ^ "Final Report of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying" (PDF). Oireachtas.ie.
- ^ "Michael Healy-Rae". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "TD does son's grass cutting". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Majella (1 March 2011). "Trip to 'motherland' changed Irish politics forever". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ "Healy-Rae brothers convicted of assault at Kenmare chip van". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Kerry". Live results from the 2019 Local Elections and European Elections. RTÉ. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Michael Healy-Rae". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 28 February 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2011.
- ^ "We pay €1,300 every time Michael Healy-Rae comes to Dublin". TheJournal.ie. 14 September 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Irish Times biggest winner at national newspaper awards". The Journal. 27 October 2011. Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- ^ McGreevy, Ronan (27 October 2011). "'Irish Times' journalists win top awards". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- ^ "Inquiry into Dáil calls to TV show sought". RTÉ News. 28 June 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ Sheahan, Fionnan (1 August 2011). "Dail TV call blitz took 31 hours". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Healy-Rae to pay phone money". The Irish Times. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ "Why Michael Healy Rae wears that flat cap and 8 other things we learned from tonight's Living with Lucy". Irish Independent. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ Kelly, Fiach (2 August 2011). "TDs check in for Dail cash but not for votes: Healy-Rae among poorest records". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Cullen, Paul (4 July 2011). "Healy-Rae remains silent over his removal from board". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "Michael Healy-Rae removed from State agency". RTÉ News. 3 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ^ "Michael Healy-Rae hospitalised after taking ill in the Dáil". 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
- ^ "Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae hospitalised". RTÉ.ie. 9 December 2011. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ O'Mahony, John (3 April 2012). "Locals despair as 'The Hum' makes life a living hell". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
- ^ McGuill, Dan (28 February 2016). "Michael and Danny will be the first siblings elected to the same constituency". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ Lucey, Ann (21 March 2016). "Michael Healy-Rae 'tossed around by a cow' on farm". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ Michael, Neil (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Kerry results: Danny Healy-Rae retains seat on sixth count". The Irish Times. Dublin. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Election 2020: Kerry". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ O'Mahoney, John (8 May 2020). "Michael says no but Danny wants exams to proceed". KillarneyToday.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Kerry Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae nominates brother Michael for Taoiseach". Radio Kerry. 9 April 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Leahy, Pat; Clarke, Vivienne (16 January 2025). "Fianna Fáil to get substantially more time in taoiseach's office than Fine Gael". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ Kelleher, Sinéad (29 January 2025). "Michael Healy-Rae becomes Minister of State – 'I am honoured and humbled'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2025 (S.I. No. 244 of 2025). Signed on 4 June 2025. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
- ^ "Michael Healy-Rae resigns as Govt 'let the people of Ireland down'". RTÉ news. 14 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ^ Healy-Rae, Michael (14 April 2026). "Confidence in Government: Motion". Dáil Debates. 1083 (4). Houses of the Oireachtas.
- ^ "Naming our new 'orphan' bridge". The Munster Express. 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ "Alcohol has nothing to do with road deaths, insists Healy-Rae". Irish Independent. 7 November 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d O'Toole, Jason (23 May 2017). "Independent's Day: The Full Hot Press Interview with Michael Healy-Rae". Hot Press. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Reilly, Gavan (4 February 2012). "Drop '13' from next year's numberplates to save car industry, urges Healy-Rae". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ "Written Answers – Motor Industry". Dáil Debates. 752 (2). Houses of the Oireachtas. 19 January 2012.
- ^ a b c Leahy, Pat (14 February 2018). "Register shows extensive property and outside interests of TDs". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b Foxe, Ken (5 March 2020). "Michael Healy-Rae added three new properties to portfolio in 2019 according to register of interests". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 4 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael Healy-Rae refused permission for pub conversion". RTE News. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b Hosford, Paul (27 February 2021). "Healy-Rae largest landlord in Dáil with 16 properties, register reveals". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ McDermott, Stephen (1 March 2025). "Who are the 32 politicians in the Dáil who declared themselves as landlords last year?". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
- ^ Beesley, Arthur (14 March 2026). "Michael Healy-Rae: What does 'Ireland's wealthiest TD' own and what is it worth?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f Clifford, Michael (23 May 2020). "Complaint made over Healy Rae link to direct provision hotel". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ Duffy, Rónán; Finn, Christina (9 December 2019). "Michael Healy-Rae TD brought to hospital after fire at Kerry shop". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2020.