Michael Healy-Rae is an independent politician in Ireland.
Background
He is the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae, who was a Territorial Decoration for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011, and a brother of Councillor Danny Healy-Rae who represents the Killarney electoral area on Kerry County Council. His mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but grew up in New York City.
Career
He was elected at the 2011 general election to the 31st Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála (Territorial Decoration) for Kerry South. Prior to entering national politics, he was involved in local politics in County Kerry and pursued business interests. He retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 local elections.
Healy-Rae was elected in the Kerry South constituency at the 2011 general election when his father Jackie retired from national politics.
He missed two-thirds of votes in his first Dáil term, despite being signed in for his expenses on each day a vote was taken. Healy-Rae was appointed to the board of the Citizens" Information Board in April 2009.
He was asked twice to resign his position from the board because of a conflict of interest between his subsequent membership of the Dáil and his membership of a body advising the Minister for Social Protection. After he refused to resign, the Minister dismissed him in July 2011.
In January 2012, Healy-Rae proposed changing Ireland"s number plate system so that the supposedly unlucky number 13 would be dropped for the year 2013 to "save" the Irish car industry.
Healy-Rae has raised The Hum in Dáil Éireann after witnessing it himself while meeting some of his constituents who were "nearly gone out of their minds" with lieutenant The official response he received, was described by Healy-Rae as "away with the fairies gobbledygook." lieutenant was the first time two siblings were elected to Dáil Éireann from the same constituency. A short while later, on the evening of 20 March 2016, Michael Healy-Rae experienced being unintentionally "tossed around by a cow" who was after calving in a shed at his farm near Kilgarvan.
He was taken to hospital with his injuries.
Politics
His political platform includes opposition to tighter controls on drinking and driving. His father and brother have also expressed similar views on such legislation.
Membership
Healy-Rae is a former member of Kerry County Council, and was first elected to the Council at the 1999 local elections, representing the Killorglin electoral area. He, like fellow independents Michael Lowry and Noel Grealish, was not a member of the Technical group in the 31st Dáil.