Healy-Raes to meet Mary Lou as SF explore way to power
KERRY’S TD brothers Michael and Danny Healy Rae are to meet with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald tomorrow ( Wednesday) as the party with the biggest vote continues scrambling for a leading way into Government.
The brothers were approached by Sinn Féin earlier this week with a view to exploratory talks with the party leader.
They’re not natural bedfellows, but Michael Healy-Rae told The Kerryman the brothers are going into the discussion with an ‘open mind’.
It follows their discussions last week with returned colleagues from the 2014-2019 rural grouping. They have also been approached by the Fianna Fáil leadership, although not on a ‘formal’ basis – with the ball firmly still in Sinn Féin’s court.
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae reiterated his need for a clear costing of Government from the Sinn Féin leader when they meet in Leinster House tomorrow.
“It’s Sinn Féin’s gig now for the time being and I’m simply going to ask how they propose to pay for all the promises. I’m not being critical of her and the party. They have a big mandate and I respect that and it’s wrong to pre-empt what another person is going to say.
“But first I have to ask how do you bring forward a budget and marry up the promises you have made and bring them into reality? How do you pay for it?”
He would not be drawn on what assurances he would need on Kerry to support a programme for government at this early stage in discussions, saying he would have to be assured of a successful budget first. He has particular questions surrounding the party’s tax proposals – one of the main economic planks of the Sinn Féin manifesto on which they were attacked by rival parties.
“As a politician who represents an awful lot of businesses, in particular small businesses that are struggling, I have to find out how they