Healy-Raes ‘are half-time performers’
AN attack on the Healy-Rae brothers in the Dáil yesterday saw them labelled ‘half-time performers’ before the chamber was suspended amid uproar.
Danny Healy-Rae was asking the Taoiseach and the Agriculture Minister to ensure ‘fair play’ for Kerry farmers when his brother Michael sought to add a contribution on the same issue.
He showed a numbered card to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle under an experimental system for ordering questions on topical issues.
But Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry shouted: ‘Stop! This is making a joke out of it altogether.
‘We have 44 deputies here but we have Kofi Annan McGrath and Ban Ki-moon Healy-Rae up every day, undermining this country.’
His Kofi-Annan reference was to Tipperary Independent Mattie McGrath, who was not in the chamber at the time.
The Healy-Raes jumped to their feet, both pointing their fingers to the FF benches. ‘That is outrageous,’ shouted Michael.
Mr MacSharry yelled: ‘There are either 158 deputies here or there are not.’
Danny Healy-Rae said: ‘Do not call us names. We were elected here in our own names and we will take no rubbish from Deputy MacSharry.’
Michael said: ‘When Deputy MacSharry was looking for Seanad votes, he was damn glad to come to Kilgarvan.’
Mr MacSharry replied: ‘This is a joke. It is Strictly Come Dancing and they are the half-time performers.’
He was told to control himself by Leas-Cheann Comhairle Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher. But Mr MacSharry rejoined: ‘For Christ’s sake, control them.’
Amid continuing interruptions, Mr Gallagher said he would take action if necessary. Michael HealyRae then apologised to the chair, but Mr MacSharry said he was going to set up a ‘Sligo-Leitrim technical group to get a few words in here’.
As Mr Gallagher threatened to suspend the House, Mr MacSharry added: ‘It may as well be suspended. The same people have the floor all the time.’
A five-minute suspension resulted. Afterwards Mr Gallagher said he had not shown favouritism to anyone and the suspension had ‘nothing’ to do with the cards.