Kerry connected Alan Kelly bids for Labour Leadership
intend to pay for it all.”
The gulf between the Healy Rae’s traditionally conservative base and Sinn Féin’s leftwing core might seem unbridgeable, but Michael Healy Rae said he will keep an ‘ open mind’: “It’s only good manners and proper politics when you are asked by some group will you sit down with them to say ‘ yes I will’.”
Discussions with former rural group independents last week will not determine his approach to Sinn Féin talks: “That grouping structure is predominantly to do with Dáil business such as speaking time.”
News of the Sinn Féin meeting was preceded by a bizarre attack on Micheal and Danny HealyRae over the progress of talks to form the next Government – from Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Dononvan.
Despite the fact that Fine Gael has declared it wants to stay in opposition – and its members are ruling out coalition with Sinn Féin or Fianna Fail – Deputy O’Donovan accused the Healy-Raes of ‘ running away from responsibility.
This week Deputy O’Donovan issued a statement attacking the Kilgarvan based Independent TDs and calling for them to clarify their position on Government.
Both Michael and Danny Healy Rae have consistently said they are ready and willing to talk to all parties.
In his statement Deputy O’Donovan asks “why certain members of the 33rd Dáil are running away from responsibility now that the time has come for Government formation.”
This would appear to completely contradict his own party’s stance and its desire to stay in opposition.
“Certain TDs have been sitting on the sidelines as we approach the first sitting of the 33rd Dáil and it is simply not good enough. It is time for the Healy Raes as well as Independent and Hard Left members in other constituencies of the 33rd Dáil to clarify their position on going into Government,” said Deputy O’Donovan.
TIPPERARY based Labour TD Alan Kelly – who has strong family connections to Kerry
– has thrown his hat into the Labour Party’s leadership race.
On Tuesday Deputy Kelly launched his campaign to succeed Brendan Howlin after he was nominated to run by fellow Labour TD’s Duncan Smith and Sean Sherlock.
Kelly – a former Cabinet minister under the Fine Gael-Labour coalition from 2011 – has strong links to Kerry.
His wife Regina O’Connor is from Waterville and the Kelly family are frequent visitors to Ballinskelligs where they have a holiday home.
Kelly is Labour’s health spokesperson and was prominent in the last Dáil for his support of the victims of the CervicalCheck scandal.
Announcing his bid to run the party Deputy Kelly said theat Labour needs to rebuild after its ppor showing in the General Election.
“We must rebuild our party, take it back to the grass roots, cover every corner of the country in doing so and regenerate the trust we had with the people of Ireland that, no matter what, Labour puts the people first,” he said
“There is a hard road ahead and it will take time, but the rebuilding of the party must revolve around putting workers and their families at the centre of political discourse,” said Deputy Kelly.
Former Labour TDs Willie Penrose and Jan O’Sullivan have also backed Kelly.