Michael Healy-Rae
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Michael Healy-Rae TD |
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|---|---|
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| Teachta Dála | |
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Assumed office February 2016 |
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| Constituency | Kerry |
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In office February 2011 – February 2016 |
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| Constituency | Kerry South |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
11 January 1967 Kilgarvan, Kerry, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish United States |
| Political party | Independent |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Michael Healy-Rae (born 11 January 1967) is an Irish independent politician. He was elected at the 2011 general election to the 31st Dáil Éireann as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Kerry South, and since the 2016 general election has represented Kerry. Prior to entering national politics, he was involved in local politics in County Kerry and pursued business interests.
He is the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae, who was a TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011, and a brother of Danny Healy-Rae who is also a TD. His mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, but grew up in New York City.
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 retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 local elections.
In autumn 2007, Michael Healy-Rae took part in a reality television show on RTÉ called Celebrities Go Wild, set in the "unforgiving landscapes" of Connemara. He emerged as the winner, having received the largest number of votes from the "viewing public". In June 2011 news broke of a voting scandal, for which journalist Senan Molony received the award for "Scoop of the Year" at the National Newspapers of Ireland's Journalism Awards. It was revealed that Healy-Rae had received 3,636 votes from a phone in Leinster House at a cost of €2,600 to the Irish taxpayer, the premium-rate calls being charged on a tariff designed to raise money for charity. Only limited information was available as to how the calls were made. Speculation that an automated dialler had been employed was discounted by the Irish Independent, which suggested they were made over 31 hours using "redial" . The Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett, described it as "an outrageous abuse of facilities", while the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the money spent on the calls should be paid back. On 29 June 2011, Healy-Rae said that while he was not involved in the calls, he would pay the money back.
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