Michael Healy-Rae
Encyclopedia
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.
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. He retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 local elections.
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 mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington
, Delaware
, but grew up in New York City
.
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
and made over 31 hours according to the Irish Independent
. 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. On 29 June 2011, Healy-Rae said that while he was not involved in the calls, he would pay the money back.
He was elected in the Kerry South constituency at the 2011 general election when his father 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.
Healy-Rae missed two-thirds of votes in his first Dail term, despite being signed in for his expenses on each day a vote was taken.
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
politician in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He was elected at the general election in February 2011 to the 31st Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
(TD) for Kerry South.
Healy-Rae is a former member of Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kerry in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of Mayor...
, and was first elected to the Council at the 1999 local elections
Irish local elections, 1999
The 1999 Irish local elections were held in all the counties, cities and towns of Ireland on 10 June 1999, on the same day as the European elections.- Results :18 Workers' Party councillors had left the party in 1992 upon the creation of Democratic Left...
, representing the Killorglin
Killorglin
Killorglin is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. It is located on the river Laune, which has a rowing club and a new boathouse. The population of Killorglin is 4,150 although this expands considerably during Puck Fair due to visitors and returning emigrants.Killorglin is a major activity centre...
electoral area. He retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 local elections.
He is the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae
Jackie Healy-Rae
Jackie Healy-Rae is a former Irish politician who served as an Independent Teachta Dála for the Kerry South constituency from 1997 to 2011.-Early and private life:...
, who was a TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011, and a brother of Councillor Danny Healy-Rae who represents the Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
electoral area on Kerry County Council. His mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, but grew up in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
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
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
at a cost of €2,600 to the Irish taxpayer, as it was a premium line according to the Irish Daily Mail
Irish Daily Mail
The Irish Daily Mail is a newspaper published in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland by Associated Newspapers. The paper was launched in February 2006 with a launch strategy that included giving away free copies on the first day of circulation and low pricing subsequently....
and made over 31 hours according to the Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
. The Ceann Comhairle
Ceann Comhairle
The Ceann Comhairle is the chairman of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas of Ireland. The person who holds the position is elected by members of the Dáil from among their number in the first session after each general election...
Seán Barrett
Seán Barrett (Fine Gael)
Seán Barrett is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has been Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann since March 2011. He served as Minister for Defence from 1995 to 1997, and later he was party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency.- Early life :He was...
described it as "an outrageous abuse of facilities", while the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
said the money spent on the calls should be paid back. On 29 June 2011, Healy-Rae said that while he was not involved in the calls, he would pay the money back.
He was elected in the Kerry South constituency at the 2011 general election when his father retired from national politics. Along with Michael Lowry
Michael Lowry
Michael Lowry is an Irish politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Tipperary North constituency and continues to enjoy high popularity in his constituency despite being the subject of a criminal investigation resulting from various scandals while in office.-Local government and...
and Noel Grealish, he is not a member of the Dáil Technical group
Technical Group
In Irish politics, a technical group is a parliamentary group of Teachtaí Dála who associate to increase their speaking rights in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas.-Origin and policy:...
.
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.
Healy-Rae missed two-thirds of votes in his first Dail term, despite being signed in for his expenses on each day a vote was taken.