The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Danny Healy-Rae not apologising over C-19 Chinese blame remarks
KILGARVAN TD Danny Healy-Rae is standing over comments he made in the Dáil last week in relation to China and Covid-19 and is this week calling for the Chinese Government to be investigated for the spread of the deadly virus.
The outspoken TD, who has often landed himself in hot water, has once again made headlines over comments made in the Dáil last week when he said he “would have thanked the Chinese to keep their virus”.
His comments came after An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar thanked the Chinese for the personal protective equipment (PPE) which arrived in Ireland to help front-line staff fight the pandemic in hospitals across the country.
The Kilgarvan Deputy said:
“The Taoiseach thanked the Chinese for the ‘stuff ’ .. PPE equipment. I would have thanked them if they kept the virus. We wouldn’t need the gowns .. if they had kept it,” he said.
His comments caused some upset, particularly to many in the Chinese community, with the comments being shared online but Deputy Healy-Rae says he did nothing wrong.
“I have nothing to apologise for. The fact is that I would thank them for keeping the virus. They kept it away from their big cities but left it out in the world. The Chinese have questions to answer,” he said.
Speaking to The Kerryman he added that he had the ‘highest respect’ for the Chinese and that they were welcome and would be protected during the current crisis as everyone else in the country.
He said his comments were not an insult to the Chinese community but were aimed at the Chinese ‘administration’
“I don’t think it was an insult to the Chinese community I have the highest respect for them.”
“There are questions to be answered about how the virus got around the place. I am calling on more than our Government, all international Governments, and the UN must get involved and see what is going on,” he concluded.
“It is the Chinese administration I am referring to, not the Chinese people. They are welcome here .. we want answers to what happened.”