The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
ROW AS HEALY RAE SNUBS BARNIER’S DAIL SPEECH
KERRY TD Michael Healy Rae has come under fire from constituency colleague John Brassil after the Kilgarvan man - who is chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs – failed to show for what Brassil described as ‘one of the most important’ Brexit-related events before the Oireachtas.
Deputy Healy Rae was nowhere to be seen in the Dáil on Thursday as TDs and senators packed out the chamber to hear from the EU’s lead Brexit negotiator Michele Barnier.
140 of the State’s 158 TDs were present for the historic address, in which Barnier insisted Ireland’s critical position would figure prominently in the EU’s negotiations.
But Healy Rae’s absence led Fianna Fáil Kerry TD John Brassil to question his ‘suitability’ for the chair of the hugely-important committee.
Michael Healy Rae explained he did not attend the Dáil on Thursday because he was not given an opportunity to either meet Barnier before the address or address Barnier in the chamber in his guise as chairman of the committee.
He has hit back at Brassil saying it would be more ‘in line’ for the Ballyheigue-native politician ‘to work for the people and not be watching what I’m doing’. Deputy Healy Rae insisted that Barnier’s appearance before the Dáil was due to an invite he had, in fact, personally extended the French politician at one of numerous meetings in Brussels as part of his work with the committee.
But Deputy Brassil described Healy Rae’s absence as a ‘blatant disregard’ for the Dáil and its workings. He said he was moved to public criticism given the massive importance of Barnier’s address at a time of such deep economic uncertainty for Ireland.
Brassil said he was reliably informed Michael Healy Rae was hosting a clinic in Listowel while Barnier was addressing the Dáil.
“Michael is an expert TD, he said himself that he was delighted Barnier attended on foot of his invitation, but the fact that he didn’t bother to turn up, instead prioritising the constituency clinic, displays a blatant disregard for the Dáil and its workings,” Deputy Brassil told The Kerryman. “Making the excuse that he wasn’t able to speak is unacceptable. There were 135 TDs present who weren’t afforded the right to speak either but were there to hear such an important address. Does he think his own opinion is so important that if he can’t speak it’s not worth attending?” Brassil asked.
Only party and group leaders were given the opportunity to speak - ruling Healy Rae out as a regular member of the Rural Independent Group of TDs.
Healy Rae said he had expected that he would have been given the chance to speak as chairman of the committee - a position worth €9,120 on top of the TD salary.
“I thought that they would give me more speaking time as chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs...I tried very hard to get speaking time. You would imagine it would only have been proper to give me that opportunity but it wasn’t offered.”
For that reason, Deputy Healy Rae effectively snubbed the occasion. While he did not deny having been at a clinic in Listowel at the time, he said Brassil ‘doesn’t know where I was’.
Michael Healy Rae meanwhile pointed to his ongoing work with the committee, teasing out the ramifications for the State of Brexit in a bid to advise of ways by which to lessen its worst likely impacts.
He said he is pleased with the progress of his idea to bring European ambassadors before the committee every Tuesday morning - interviewing more than ten so far amid numerous other witnesses.
“My answer to John Brassil is that I never interfered with work another person was doing. It would be more in his line to work for the people and not be watching what I’m doing.”
He did not say why he was only prepared to attend on Thursday on the guarantee of being able to speak. When The Kerryman pressed the point he said: “There’s a crowd of people here waiting for me [in Dingle]. I’m after answering the question.” Brassil meanwhile said he had been working for the people. “I’m here in the Dáil on the three days it sits in the week and working at home the rest of the week, doing the job I was elected to do.”