Michael Healy-Rae has said he will “100%” vote for Micheál Martin as Taoiseach if an agreement can be drawn up that reflects “common sense” values.
With Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael currently a few seats short of a working majority, the two larger parties are negotiating with independent TDs who have expressed an interest in supporting them.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Deputy Healy-Rae said he and his brother, Danny, are open to supporting the Government in the next Dáil.
“Immediately after the votes were literally counted, the first week after that, myself and my brother made it quite clear that our phones are turned on and if somebody wants to speak to us, we would speak to them like we did before - on many occasions,” he said.
The party leaders have my number and my phone is always on. I’ll talk to anybody but I won’t sell my soul and I have three items to discuss before going into government with anyone and that’s KERRY, KERRY and KERRY. https://t.co/0Q6TZWC3aH
— Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) December 2, 2024
In 1997, Jackie Healy-Rae, the father of the two current Healy-Rae TDs, agreed to support the Government after Bertie Ahern agreed to spend ten of millions of pounds on the roads in his South Kerry constituency.
Deputy Healy-Rae said no Taoiseach until now has expressed an interest in doing a similar deal with him and his brother.
Micheál Martin with Jackie Healy-Rae in 2007. Picture by: Adeline Pericart/Photocall Ireland.“[Enda Kenny], it was his prerogative as to who he wanted in his team and he didn’t choose us,” he said.
“You can’t go to a wedding unless you get an invitation - we didn’t drop any ball.”
Deputy Healy-Rae said that negotiations are currently underway and his negotiating priorities are to get the best deal for “the people of Kerry”.
“After this election, we said we would be willing to talk if people want to talk to us,” he said.
“The phone did ring; we went to Dublin, we had meetings, we had another meeting yesterday with the Tánaiste - it lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
“Present at that was Johnny, Maura and Jackie Healy-Raes - they’re the young Healy-Rae councillors - and both myself and my brother, Danny.
“We listened very clearly and the message is that the Government are interested… Well, we’re interested - if it’s in the interests of the betterment of the people of Kerry.”
On the return of the 34th Dáil, the 5 elected Healy-Rae’s, Danny, Johnny, Maura, Jackie and I met with Táiniste Micheal Martin for a very useful and progressive meeting, this is the second meeting so far with the Táiniste with a view to supporting an incoming Government.
— Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) December 18, 2024
Deputy Healy-Rae said there are “more meetings” planned and the family want a "secure and stable" Government that can last the full Dáil term.
“We want common sense to be a big part of this Government,” he said.
“We feel that the last Government because of what I’d call a strong Green influence, that it was very one sided.
“We’d be hoping this time that common sense will prevail and that we’d have a fairer Government that would be more interested in the people.”
Deputy Healy-Rae said if the negotiations are successful, he would “100%” vote for Micheál Martin as Taoiseach in January.
Main image: Michael and Danny Healy-Rae. Picture by: Rolling News.ie.
