Latest news with #MichaelHealyRae
BreakingNews.ie
14 hours ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Tony Holohan linked with presidential bid
Tony Holohan could be making a bid to enter the race to become the next President. It is reported the former chief medical officer has plans in progress to announce his candidacy. Advertisement The Irish Mail on Sunday quotes the Covid-era CMO as saying he could "neither confirm nor deny" if he was preparing to put his hat in the ring to replace Michael D Higgins at this time. Yesterday Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley suggested he may run for the Áras saying "somebody has to speak for the Irish people". Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has ruled himself out of the running. In an interview with , former minister Ivan Yates said Mr Healy-Rae could be a "dark horse" in the presidential race. However, when this was put to him on RTÉ radio on Saturday, Mr Healy-Rae said he was focused on his role as a TD for Kerry.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Healy-Rae rules himself out of presidential race after rumours
Michael Healy-Rae has ruled himself out of the presidential race after speculation that he could make a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, the Minister of State ruled himself out. Advertisement It came after a interview with former minister Ivan Yates, who said Mr Healy-Rae could be a "dark horse" in the presidential race. Mr Healy-Rae said he had a "very clear focus" on serving as a TD for Kerry. When asked about rumours of a run from Michael Flatley , Mr Healy-Rae said he is 'excellent ambassador for our traditions of dance and music'. He added: "'He's a person that I know personally, and he's a very, very nice gentleman. I wish him every good luck in every endeavour that he would ever had, but you can be sure of one thing, whatever name is going to be on that piece of paper, it's not going to be me.' Advertisement In the interview, Mr Yates said: "One name I've picked up with my political antennae, who people believe would win if he ran is, believe it or not, Michael Healy-Rae. "What people said to me was, if there has to be another candidate other than Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Catherine Connolly, what about Michael Healy-Rae? "This is from talking to people from all sorts of background, when I put it to them what do you think of the mad idea that the guy with the cap would run? They immediately said to me, both rural and Dublin, 'oh if he ran, he'd win'. "The Healy-Raes are seen as doers, it's distinctive. Even second generation people in Dublin would see the merit in it, and that he has not only name recognition but a brand as well."
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Michael Healy-Rae could be 'dark horse' in presidential race, says Ivan Yates
Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae could be a "dark horse" in the presidential race, according to former minister Ivan Yates. In an interview with Mr Yates said he had initally been surprised about speculation over the Kerry TD throwing his hat in the ring in the race for Áras an Uachtaráin, however, he now believes Mr Healy-Rae would have a good chance. Advertisement "One name I've picked up with my political antennae, who people believe would win if he ran is, believe it or not, Michael Healy-Rae. "What people said to me was, if there has to be another candidate other than Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Catherine Connolly, what about Michael Healy-Rae? "This is from talking to people from all sorts of background, when I put it to them what do you think of the mad idea that the guy with the cap would run? They immediately said to me, both rural and Dublin, 'oh if he ran, he'd win'. "The Healy-Raes are seen as doers, it's distinctive. Even second generation people in Dublin would see the merit in it, and that he has not only name recognition but a brand as well." Advertisement Mr Yates, who served as minister for agriculture and now hosts the Path To Power podcast with Matt Cooper, siad Mr Healy-Rae could be a "dark horse" in the upcoming presidential election. When asked about whether Mr Healy-Rae would really consider a bid, Mr Yates said he had put it to Minister of State, but Mr Healy-Rae would "keep his cards close to his chest". Michael Healy-Rae is different and for him that is a big plus. "I see him as a dark horse. Only this morning I asked him for his view, one thing is certain, he will keep his cards close to his chest. A bit like Michael McDowell, he won't object to the speculation. It's always nice in politics to stay in the news, there's no downside. "I'm surprised at the high respect he has outside of Kerry, he's seen as a doer and a successful person in his own right. Advertisement "I always say it's not the same that sells, it's different that sells. "Michael Healy-Rae is different and for him that is a big plus." The fact Fine Gael have nominated Mairead McGuinness will put further pressure on Fianna Fáil to run their own candidate, Mr Yates said. He said the lack of an obvious choice is their main issue, and that Taoiseach Micheál Martin is the strongest candidate. Advertisement He also believes the fact Mary Lou McDonald has been linked with a run will bring another dimension to the race. Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae could be a "dark horse" in the presidential race, according to former minister Ivan Yates. "The big factor is now that Fine Gael are running a conventional campaign with Mairead McGuinness, Sinn Féin will have to react to that. I think Sinn Féin have taken the decision to run their own candidate instead of backing a left unity candidate. "The three choices will be Michelle O'Neill, John Finucane and Mary Lou McDonald, the strongest of those is Mary Lou in terms of driving their agenda, their brand, their statement. "She has had two goes at becoming taoiseach without making much progress, now might be the time rather than going for taoiseach again in 2029. Advertisement It would suit that strategy if she could get elected to the park. I think it is a gamechanger, if she stands it becomes a completely different election. "A lot more exciting, in terms of political capital... the stakes will be much higher." Fianna Fáil dilemma Mr Yates added: "For what can be a very moribund, personalised, abusive, esoteric contest, this will turn it into a proper national heavyweight title. With a Fine Gael and Sinn Féin player in it, Fianna Fáil cannot sit on their hands, they will need to run a candidate whether they like it or not. "Party faithful will say the only one who can win it is Micheál Martin, and that he owes it to the party to stand. "I don't see him giving up a job he's worked so hard for to be taoiseach again, I don't see him being tempted by the presidency. "It's his personal decision and I don't think he wants it. So what will Fianna Fáil do? They can't stay out though. "I originally thought there will be a desire not to give it to Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil and let them have everything, and that is an opportunity for Mary Lou. "I thought Frances Black had a great chance as a unity candidate, but that would have to have buy in from Sinn Féin." With Ms McGuinness and Ms Connolly declared as early candidates, Mr Yates believes Fianna Fáil may adopt a strategy of entering the race at a later date. "If Fianna Fáil get involved, the route of four councils for a nomination could be choked off. So the likes of Peter Casey and Ming Flanagan will not be facilitiated. "We know that Michael D finishes on November 11th, so the polling day has to be 60 days before that so some time between mid October and early November. I think Fianna Fáil have taken the view that by the time the media have done their forensic, in the weeds analysis of Mairead and Catherine they will be damaged goods, and they will play their hand late to try to scoop it. The problem is they don't have a candidate. "It's hard to know when some of them don't know themselves yet. What I'm hearing from Fianna Fáil over the last six months is when it comes to the presidency, it costs €500,000, no guarantee you'll get your 12.5 per cent vote for your money back, it can be unpredictable. Look at Fine Gael, they got 38 per cent of the vote in the 2011 general election and Gay Mitchell received 6 per cent in the presidential election." Mr Yates believes the presidential election would be more "party political" than personality driven if Mary Lou McDonald takes the Sinn Féin nomination. Mary Lou being in the running changes things as it will make it highly political, and almost tribal. He added that the Coalition parties would be desperate to keep her out of Áras an Uachtaráin, as she would likely take up an active commentary on various national issues rather than the ceremonial role some believe the President should fulfill. "Mary Lou being in the running changes things as it will make it highly political, and almost tribal. "Let the games begin. "What we're looking at now is a much more party political election. Previously it was more of a personality contest with the likes of Joe Duffy and Miriam O'Callaghan linked with bids. "It now looks like a more conventional party gun fight. They will all be more invested in it, but unlike a European election it will be very door to door, fought through the media and on debates. "I remain to be convinced that the currently declared candidates will provide the winner. "There's a fundamental dichotomy of views about the presidency. One is it's a representational role, the other is that it's to change Ireland. This is a constitutional and political row. "With someone like Mary Lou it's limitations would become even more frayed, and maybe attritional, but a lot of people would say that's a good thing. They're not in favour of an FF/FG heghemony and that in itself will be an issue upon which the public is very divided. "We live in a world of culture wars, so that will be thrown in to everything."
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Miriam's Lord's Week: The gang's (almost) all here for the Healy-Rae hooley
Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae held a big hooley in Leinster House on Thursday for his general election team to thank them for helping him top the poll yet again in Kerry and return in triumph to the Dáil. About 100 people headed up from the Kingdom to enjoy a lunch 'hosted by Minister Michael Healy-Rae'. There was no mention on the printed menu of his brother Danny, the second member of team Healy-Rae to retain a seat in the constituency. There were drinks in the bar before the guests moved down the corridor to the Members' Restaurant, where they dined on roast chicken supreme with summer pea and asparagus cream, gratin potatoes and a medley of vegetables. READ MORE Dessert was caramelised lemon tartlet with a meringue crumb. At the end of the meal, Michael went into the kitchens and emerged with a birthday cake for team member Tom O'Shea from Waterville, who had just turned 70. The group brought it up from Maloney's cake shop in Castleisland and it was gorgeous. Earlier, they toured the House and popped into the Dáil and the Seanad, where the Cathaoirleach, Kerryman Mark Daly, made sure to mention them. 'They are guests of Danny and Michael Healy-Rae. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I hope they have an enjoyable day in Dublin and we'll all be back up the weekend after next for another enjoyable day in Dublin, please God, and we'll be bringing Sam Maguire back home.' [ Man who pleaded guilty to electoral fraud worked for Healy-Rae company, Fine Gael senator claims Opens in new window ] Danny didn't attend the lunch. The Healy-Rae contingent wasn't in the chamber when Kerry-based Labour Senator Tim Kennelly told the Upper House under Seanad privilege that a man who pleaded guilty in Kenmare District Court to election fraud worked for a plant-hire company owned by the family of Danny Healy-Rae. When contacted by The Irish Times on Thursday, Danny Healy-Rae said: 'I have no comment.' Who rubbed out Jack Lynch's pipe? Decades of political memory and experience, valued service to the State, grudges and begrudgery, huffs, cute-hoorism and hissy-fits all come together when the Irish Association of Former Parliamentarians meets in Leinster House. More than 50 blasts from the recent and distant past gathered last Friday for the association's agm, held this year in the airy confines of Fianna Fáil's parliamentary party rooms on the fifth floor. Guest speaker on the day was former president Mary McAleese, who gave a talk on her time in the Áras which included some fascinating detail on Queen Elizabeth's historic State visit in 2011. There was no discussion about who might fill her successor's shoes when his time is up in November. The large contingent of former Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators were also fascinated by a long-standing feature of the party room: the line of framed photographs of former leaders. They recalled the black-and-white portraits from their own days at parliamentary meetings. After the 2011 election, when the party had to give way to Enda Kenny and swap its fifth-floor penthouse for Fine Gael's dark and stuffy meeting room in the basement, the pictures came too. 'From as far back as I can remember, the leaders always started with De Valera and they ended with the most recent person,' said a former FF Oireachtas member. 'Left to right, Dev first. But now, it's the other way around. Micheál Martin is first and Dev is kinda last. Oh, and Micheál is the only one in colour.' But that wasn't the real talking point. 'We were looking at the row of photos and something wasn't quite right. Something was missing. Then somebody twigged it was Jack Lynch. Jack always had a pipe. Always,' recalled our former parliamentarian. 'This was a new picture of Jack Lynch and he no longer has the pipe. Suppose we can't be doing with that sort of thing these days. So Jack's trademark pipe has been airbrushed from history. Honest to God. It's gone.' Wonder if the other Cork Taoiseach knows about this – the current full-colour incumbent who introduced the world's first workplace smoking ban in 2004? Classic Micheál, if you ask us. Soc Dems turn 10 Social policy professor turned Social Democrat TD Rory Hearne plays senior hurling on the housing crisis in the Dáil, and to unwind he has returned to junior hurling with his local club, Whitehall Colmcilles. The Dublin North-West TD is enjoying the game so much he decided to organise an end-of-term cross-party GAA knockabout for colleagues in Leinster House. There are regular rugby and soccer matches between Oireachtas members but Gaelic games haven't had much of a look-in. A small but enthusiastic group assembled in the grounds of Trinity College Dublin, where their host, Provost Linda Doyle, watched the politicians thrash about in the rain in the name of sport. They attempted a game of football as well as the hurling. Dublin legend Michael Darragh Macauley, along with Cormac Donohoe of the Dublin Masters team, tried to keep some semblance of shape on the proceedings. 'The only thing at stake was our dignity,' says Rory. 'There were no results. We decided to call everything a draw.' Among the politicians lining out were Fine Gael TDs Joe Neville (Kildare North), Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim), Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford), Sinn Féin's Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth) and Darren O'Rourke (Meath-East), Labour's Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South-West) and Marie Sherlock (Dublin-Central), Fianna Fáil's Peter 'Chap' Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny) and Kerry Labour Senator Mike Kennelly. TDs line out for a hurling match at Trinity College Dublin: 'The only thing at stake was our dignity' Now that they've established themselves, the players hope more TDs and Senators will sign up for a charity match they have planned for September, hopefully in Croke Park. Meanwhile, Hearne got back to Leinster House in time for the family photo with his fellow Soc Dems as the party marked 10 years since its foundation in 2015. Its three founding members have since left national politics. Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy retired at the last election and Stephen Donnelly, who defected to Fianna Fáil and was minister for health in the last government, lost his Dáil seat in November. He didn't join his erstwhile co-leaders at a celebratory dinner with the parliamentary party in the Members' Restaurant on Wednesday night. Stephen isn't totally out of the loop – he was in Glenties on Friday as one of the guest speakers at the MacGill Summer school, Ireland's Glastonbury for political anoraks. He was in good spirits, thanking his host for correctly identifying him as the former minister for health and not the current leader of Aontú. Former minister for health Stephen Donnelly and Jess Majekodunmi, managing director of human sciences studio at Accenture, at the MacGill Summer School. Photograph: North West Newspix 'I've had three people over the last 24 hours kind of look at me, put out the hand and go: 'It's Peadar Tóibín, isn't it!' So for any of you here who are still wondering, no, it isn't. Yes, we do look a little alike – he's a good-looking chap, nobody will take that from him ... but I'm not Peadar Tóibín.' And for good measure, he also stressed that he isn't the economist Dan O'Brien, the other person he is frequently mistaken for. Speaking of Donegal, we wrote last week about the Blaney family's 100 years of unbroken service at local level. A reader has been in touch to point out that they may well have sat on Donegal County Council since 1925 but, like all the other county councils, it was founded by the local government reforms of 1899. We, er, knew that. Horrible histories Congratulations to Sinn Féin's Chief Whip and spokesperson on fisheries and the marine who had some good news to announce on Wednesday. 'I have been appointed to be the convener of the Ireland-Norway Parliamentary Friendship Group by the Ceann Comhairle,' wrote Pádraig Mac Lochlainn in an email to all Oireachtas members. 'There is so much that we can learn from the Norwegian people, particularly how they have maximised the potential of the seas alongside them to create huge wealth and prosperity for their coastal communities. 'The connections between Ireland and Norway go back as far as the ninth century,' he added, inviting all TDs and Senators to contact him if they want to join the new friendship group. That's nice. Fair play to the Vikings. Not like those horrible Normans, who were descendants of Vikings and left behind a lot of historical baggage here too. Only last May, Pádraig's party colleague Aengus Ó Snodaigh was blasting the Government for approving plans for Ireland to participate in the Year of the Normans initiative along with other European countries. He said the proposal to celebrate the birth 1,000 years ago of England's first Norman King, William the Conqueror, whose successors subjugated Ireland, was 'offensive'. It was 'scraping the barrel of colonialism, imperialism and English royalism for themed tourism'. Mind you, conquest, pillage and rape was all the rage more than 1,000 years ago when the Scandinavian marauders established significant settlements around ancient Ireland and parts of Normandy. We hope Pádraig consulted Aengus about our ninth-century 'connections' with Norway before joining the friendship group. Bastille Day bash Liberté! Égalité! Fraternité! Buckets of Rosé! One of the last embassy garden parties of the summer diplomatic season was held at the French ambassador's residence on Monday night. The magnificent late 19th-century pile on Ailesbury Road has just reopened after a lengthy renovation. More than 1,200 guests joined Her Excellency Céline Place in her 1.75-acre back garden for the annual Bastille Day celebrations. All the political parties were represented. The Shinners were there, making a beeline for the ice-cream van when they arrived. They must have been happy to get out. They don't attend the UK embassy party and they had to boycott one of their favourite ones – the US ambassador's Fourth of July bash because of the US's stance on Gaza. Labour and the Social Democrats also snubbed Uncle Sam this year, although the members of Independent Ireland were happy to attend. They all came together to toast La République (proposed in a proud Cavan accent by Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam) and Ireland (proposed by the ambassador) and to hear Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill deliver a speech in fluent French. It was most impressive. There wasn't a frog's leg or a piece of fromage in sight but the wine flowed and waiters patrolling the lawns with magnums of Whispering Angel rosé were in great demand. Somehow, the denizens of Leinster House managed to regroup for their end-of-term parties on Wednesday night before the Dáil and Seanad rose on Thursday for the summer recess. They'll be back in mid-September.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Climate Council warns against ‘dumb' proposal to allow forestry on peatlands
Controversial moves to introduce incentives for planting trees on peatlands will only increase carbon emissions, the Climate Change Advisory Council has warned. In its annual review of agriculture, land use and forestry, published on Wednesday, the council said: 'Urgent action and strengthened policy levers are required to incentivise increased tree planting to ensure Ireland's forestry sector does not become a source of greenhouse gas emissions.' The Government's forestry policy is not achieving planting levels needed to meet climate targets despite an overhaul in recent years, it stated. 'Current afforestation policy is inadequate to meet our future needs as tree-planting rates remain well below the target of 8,000 hectares per year.' In 2024 the State added just 1,573 hectares of new forest; the lowest number in nearly 80 years. READ MORE Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has said it may be necessary to plant trees on deep peatlands to address timber shortages. But the independent advisory body has concluded that all evidence suggests 'this leads to significant carbon losses over time'. It is, therefore, 'essential that current constraints on afforestation on deep peat remain unchanged and are rigorously enforced', it said. Mr Healy-Rae told the Seanad in May that he and officials in the Department of Agriculture would look at planting trees on peatland in what would be a reversal of current restrictions. He suggested the ban on planting trees on deeper peatlands could result in a future shortage of timber, meaning a 'stupid' reliance on Scottish imports. [ Storm Éowyn's €500m toll on Irish forestry revealed by satellite imagery Opens in new window ] In response, leading climate scientist Prof Peter Thorne of Maynooth University, who is chair of the council's adaptation committee, said afforesting peatlands was 'environmental vandalism' and 'about the dumbest thing we can do' from the point of view of climate action. Commenting on the need for improved performance in the forestry sector, council chair Marie Donnelly said: 'What we have seen in the sector is a failure of policy, with schemes to incentivise more planting not delivering the results required. This has been exacerbated by damage to forests during the winter with Storms Darragh and Éowyn, which resulted in over 26,000 hectares damaged by windthrow.' There is a need for a policy from Government that will 'actively encourage afforestation in the areas most suited to planting'. The council highlighted the opportunity for the forestry sector to deliver modern methods of construction, notably expansion of timber frame construction with potential for a strong domestic market for locally-produced timber. This would reduce significant amounts of carbon, it said, given one cubic metre of timber replacing concrete and steel in construction saves 0.77 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Yet only 24 per cent of building construction in Ireland is timber, compared with more than 80 per cent in Finland, Scotland and Sweden. Building with timber is at cost parity with conventional construction systems. With emissions from agriculture having decreased by just 1.7 per cent in 2024 relative to 2023, and by 4.6 per cent relative to 2018, the council said an accelerated roll out of proven on-farm measures were required. With agriculture remaining Ireland's largest source of emissions, it called for 'deployment of methane-reducing manure additives and greater use of protected urea fertilisers', which reduce ammonia loss and greenhouse gases. [ The Irish Atlantic rainforest pulsing life back into the Beara peninsula Opens in new window ] Increasing diversification in farming is critical alongside scaling up biomethane production using anaerobic digesters, it said. 'Implementation of the national biomethane strategy has been piecemeal to date, leading to a worryingly low level of interest in progressing this mitigation option.' The Government needs to ensure all available instruments, including taxation, regulation and incentives, are in place to enable farmers to make necessary changes to on-farm practices. 'Diversification is vital for the long-term sustainability of the sector, and the Government should set annual targets for the roll out of diversification options including bioenergy, organic productions systems, expanded tillage and agroforestry with policies to support this,' Ms Donnelly said.
