Michael Healy-Rae
Kerry · Independent · Ireland
“This motion is timely because, with the massive increases for people running their homes and businesses, people who are working have never been at more of a disadvantage because of the high cost of going to work, childcare and fuel. What we need is a more targeted approach by the Government.”
“In County Kerry alone, the number of businesses that are closing weekly is frightening. These businesses are owned by people who have been in business for many years, who are very much valued in our communities and who create local employment, but they are closing their doors. It can be small shops, public houses or gift stores.”
“We should be doing more about providing our own energy, and doing more in a forward-thinking way to try to ensure that these types of measures will help us to reduce the cost of energy.”
“However, at the end of the day, the people that we always have to consider are people on low incomes, people who are working and people who are struggling. We have to try to help them in every way we can through targeted approaches. We have to look at the bigger picture, like the high cost of fuel and the tax take on fuel.”
“I sincerely thank Deputy Charles Ward for bringing forward this important motion. It is a reasonable motion. I acknowledge the work that has been done by people from the Government and the Opposition in securing the situation with IS 465:2026. Large sums of money have been put forward to help the affected families.”
“I urge the Government to outline its position on the EU lead ammunition proposal. This is the proposal to take lead out of ammunition, which could have a negative effect on 150,000 licensed shotgun owners in Ireland.”
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“However, at the end of the day, the people that we always have to consider are people on low incomes, people who are working and people who are struggling. We have to try to help them in every way we can through targeted approaches. We have to look at the bigger picture, like the high cost of fuel and the tax take on fuel. The figures are mind-boggling. Again, why is fuel more expensive here than in any other part of Europe or the world?”
“We should be doing more about providing our own energy, and doing more in a forward-thinking way to try to ensure that these types of measures will help us to reduce the cost of energy. When energy costs are higher, and we are all well aware of the statistics on exactly how much fuel and energy have gone up in price, we have to be forward thinking about how we are going to deal with that in the coming years. The measures we take, such as those that were voted on in the House last night to support an LNG facility in this country, are very important. I believe we need to have more debates about this matter in the coming weeks in a pre-budget type of way. We have all met with the different groups and sectors that have come here over the last weeks and months to make pre-budget submissions.”
“In County Kerry alone, the number of businesses that are closing weekly is frightening. These businesses are owned by people who have been in business for many years, who are very much valued in our communities and who create local employment, but they are closing their doors. It can be small shops, public houses or gift stores. These are people who were able to manage before, who are involved in different types of personal services, like hairdressers. We have to do something to arrest it. I want to focus on one issue in particular, the high cost of energy. Why is it costing us so much to provide electricity to people's homes? When we look at the profits being made by the likes of the ESB, we have to look at what we are doing. That is why I welcome, for example, what is being done regarding Shannon LNG.”
“This motion is timely because, with the massive increases for people running their homes and businesses, people who are working have never been at more of a disadvantage because of the high cost of going to work, childcare and fuel. What we need is a more targeted approach by the Government. It will never be more important or timely than in the upcoming budget to make sure that the supports that will be made available for energy and the general cost of living are targeted to help people who are really struggling. From dealing with people every day, it seems to me that it mostly affects those who are working. Everybody can be struggling, but for the people who are going to work every day, who have the high cost of loans on cars and mortgage or rent payments, everything is piling up on top of them. It is the same for businesses.”
“What is being proposed by the EU is nonsensical. I would like to know what our position will be and which Minister and Department will be responsible for this.”
“I urge the Government to outline its position on the EU lead ammunition proposal. This is the proposal to take lead out of ammunition, which could have a negative effect on 150,000 licensed shotgun owners in Ireland. There seems to be a problem in government in identifying which Minister and Department is actually going to be responsible for this. I would like a bit of effort to be made in that regard because rural stakeholders deserve to know what position Ireland intends to take before any decisions are made that could have significant negative consequences for firearm owners, farmers and sporting interests across the country. I know this is of particular interest to the National Association of Regional Game Councils of Ireland. These people represent real people on the ground. They are very responsible licensed gun-holders.”
“If you look at this, it makes no sense whatsoever to not make allowances where foundations are deemed to be unsafe or unsure. It does not make sense to be giving people assistance to build a house on top of a foundation that might in the future weaken and not be of a proper standard. That is why this motion is reasonable. I highlight at this stage that tonight I am facilitating a Minister by pairing with him to allow him to do his work but only for that fact, I would be supporting this motion. It is a reasonable motion but I am unable to vote because I am facilitating a Minister in his work. I highlight the concern among people who find themselves in this awful situation. It is like leaving the handle go with the hatchet. The Government has recognised that this is a problem.”
“I sincerely thank Deputy Charles Ward for bringing forward this important motion. It is a reasonable motion. I acknowledge the work that has been done by people from the Government and the Opposition in securing the situation with IS 465:2026. Large sums of money have been put forward to help the affected families. I have spoken to many of them over the years. The one thing of paramount importance is the case-by-case study. In other words, I note that the motion brought forward calls for "an explicit entitlement for homeowners to opt for full foundation replacement where reasonable doubt exists as to future performance". That is reasonable. I have read the countermotion by Government. Of course, it states "notwithstanding that there are no current cases of damage to foundations" and then goes on to state the Government's position.”
“I have met with residents who outlined their concerns. Of course, there will always be concerns. One of the things that it always reminds of, and I would like the Minister to take this on board, is the person who applies for planning permission to build a house near another person's farmyard. When they are living in their house, they then complain about the farmyard. In other words, what was there first? Many of the estates-----”
“If we could have an earlier service in the morning, and if it is deemed financially viable to do so, we certainly would welcome it with open arms because Farranfore is one of the most unusual places in Ireland. It has an excellent road service and train service. That is a great advantage to us in the heart of County Kerry. Coming back to the whole idea of what the Government is trying to achieve in Dublin, it is very welcome. We need to remove this cap because, quite simply, we need to allow more business to come into this country. We need connectivity to the airport. There is no point in being retrospective about it but it is surprising that we do not a rail service to and from the airport after all of these years. Again, Rome was not built in a day. I refer to the way the Government is going and the removal of the cap.”
“Usually, people like him are demeaned and downgraded in here because of their success, usually by a certain group of politicians who absolutely despite and hold a grudge against anybody who seems to create wealth, growth and employment. They seem to have a set against them. I wish to remind people about County Kerry's airport, Farranfore, which is strategically very important to us. Michael O'Leary has continuously told us that it is money that he makes in places like Dublin Airport that allows him to provide us with the service we have and are very thankful for. While I am at it, I would like to put in a spoke for more flights in and out of County Kerry provided by good people, such as Michael O'Leary and Ryanair.”
“The Minister knows my views on this whole matter. Like Deputy Toole, I would like to think that I am coming at this from a sound and sensible perspective, not like the motion we had here last week where we had people who were against economic activity, building roads and everything we are trying to do from a common-sense point of view. We need roads and houses. A term used in the motion last week was "unsustainable housing". I would love to know what an unsustainable house is. I would love to know how any politician could deem what the Government is doing with Dublin Airport is wrong from an economic point of view, from a bringing people into this country point of view and from a strategic point of view. When we look at people like Michael O'Leary, I am very glad to use Michael O'Leary's name in the Dáil in a positive way.”
“Again, let the message go out clearly that the Labour Party is against tourism and economic development, it is against house building and it is against the construction of roads. This makes absolutely no sense to me or to the people from Kerry whom I represent, whom I want to continue to fight for, argue for and be there to support. What the Labour Party is trying to do in undermining the work that is being carried out is absolutely crazy and insane and I do not agree with it. I certainly will not support it in any shape or fashion whatsoever.”
“The people paying the price for unachievable targets are not politicians in Dublin but farmers, families with two cars who are working hard, small business owners and rural communities who have no alternatives. The Government is removing the cap for Dublin Airport. What will this do? It will help us an awful lot. It will bring more people into the country. It will bring economic development here. When I see the Minister prioritising road safety, saving lives by spending money on roads and infrastructure, I welcome it. I see the Government targeting housing and then a motion like this comes along trying to undermine this type of work. That is why I say the motion is mad and makes no sense.”
“This motion is mad. It states that Dáil Éireann recognises that the Government will further increase carbon emissions by lifting the Dublin Airport cap, promoting unsustainable housing and economic development and by no longer prioritising public transport and active travel investment over road construction. The message must go out loud and clear from here today that the Labour Party is against tourism and economic development, it is against house building and it is against the construction of roads. This is a very clear message by the Labour Party here in the motion. Targets underpinned by the climate action Bill, which 129 TDs across all parties voted for, are wholly unachievable and always were.”
“I thank the Minister. I know his heart is in the right place on this matter, which is the reason I am asking him the questions. What communications has he had on the national planning statement? Will the statement be made available for consultation with stakeholders before implementation? What would the Minister like to see in it?”
“I ask the Minister to give confidence to the sector - the long-established self-catering operators who have been operating legally for many years - that they will not be forced out of business as a consequence of the new short-term letting regulations?”
“I respect everybody's right to hold the opinion that they have on this very important issue but I believe what is happening here is blatantly wrong and I completely disagree with it.”
“I respect that people hold different views on abortion and they are perfectly entitled to their views but the question is whether politicians should now remove safeguards that formed part of the framework presented to the public in the first instance. I believe that what is happening now is blatantly wrong. Why is there such a rush to dismantle a measure that was presented to voters as part of the balance in the legislation? It does not make sense. What it proves is that what was presented and what was sold to the public at the time by the politicians who were supporting the introduction of this change in the legislation is now being twisted and turned into something different and the safeguard is being removed. That is wrong.”
“"Safe, legal and rare" was the line in 2018. HSE data shows that between 2019 and 2024, 10,426 women who attended an abortion appointment did not return after the three-day cooling-off and waiting period. That proves that those ladies took time to reflect and made a different decision to what they might have made if they did not have the cooling-off period. The waiting period was presented as an important safeguard within the legislation. There are close to 11,000 abortions taking place in Ireland every year. Over 60,000 abortions have happened since the law changed in 2019. Abortion now ends the lives of one in every six babies in Ireland. This, in my opinion, is a national tragedy.”
“I welcome the statements from the Minister, Deputy James Browne, the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, and the Tánaiste on overhauling rural planning. This is an issue the Taoiseach feels very strongly about himself. Kerry has been severely impacted. Places like Kilcummin and Beaufort are effectively sterilised, as is the Ring of Kerry route. Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has questions to answer on this and on not allowing us to use existing entrances on the N70 or the N86 Tralee to Dingle road. Meat needs to be put on the bones of those statements. For us to really make an impact on people's lives, we have to give clear direction to the local authorities as to what the Government's policy actually is. When will the national planning statement for rural planning be announced?”
“Yes, administration had to be dealt with but I want to acknowledge the work of the Secretary General, the people in the Department of Finance and the Minister, Deputy Heydon, for chairing all those meetings and being so diligent dealing with the representatives from all the groups, whether it was the contractors, the marine people, the fishers or the farmers, to try to deliver something that would be substantial enough that it would make a difference. That has been implemented now. People have put in their applications and will know what they will get. Any money they get is a help. There is another issue, in that because it is a rebate scheme, they should not have to pay tax on the money they get.”
“Money is being collected and it is going to TAMS grants, for example. That is something we desperately want funding for. We have to strike a balance for the greater good at all times. It would be wrong for anyone to talk on the Finance Bill and not recognise the package put in place was such a large and substantial sum of money. On agriculture and the marine, that fund was put in place in a very timely fashion.”
“The Minister of State will understand why that is a big worry to a person who might be shoving 80 years of age to be told they will be given the grant but they must wait two years for it. Surely we could do better when it comes to delivering. I know there are issues like manpower on the ground, labour and so on. I understand why there are difficulties delivering it more quickly but it is something we should seriously look at. I hope budget 2027 will look at aspects of that scheme to see if we can get the money to where it is needed more quickly and to bring relief, heat, warmth and comfort to older people more quickly than at present. On issues like the carbon tax, we have to start looking at exactly how much is being collected and how quickly it is being delivered to help the people we are trying to help.”
“At the same time, we have to be balanced and considerate in taxing fuel and to understand that an awful lot of people living in rural areas, like County Kerry, are being more directly and negatively impacted by taxes on fuel than others. On carbon tax funds, the SEAI is being funded by carbon tax but it is ironic that we still have people waiting two years for retrofitting under the warmer homes scheme. Such an amount of money is being collected all the time through taxation to help people retrofit their homes. When a person in their 70s or 80s, who is living in a cold home, says they would like to make their home more energy efficient and to avail of the retrofitting grant - I welcome the retrofitting grant and I am glad it is there - they are told they qualify but they will have to wait so many years.”
“The carbon tax deferral is very welcome but this is a tax that will have to be examined as to its effectiveness because it is punishing people living in rural areas who do not have any alternative to driving. They have to use diesel or petrol because electric vehicles are not as reliable or give the same distance. That is why the whole issue of carbon tax is such a hot potato for people living in rural areas. Again, I remind people that the package put in place was, if not the largest, the second largest fund put in place in Europe in response to the war being waged many thousands of miles away and which is totally beyond the control of this Government.”
“In regard to the package put in place, I want to thank the Minister, Deputy Heydon, the Ministers of State, Deputies Dooley and Grealish, and the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien. I also thank the team who worked to put it together. Of course, I would welcome the package because I worked on it too. Like every package put together, the one thing you would always ask is whether it went far enough. The whole issue of taxation on fuel has to be looked at and that will have to be done ahead of budget 2027. Our tax system cannot rely so heavily on taxation on fuel given that rural people are at a disadvantage because they have to drive further, because of agriculture and contracting and because of trying to survive in rural Ireland.”
“However, we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. We need to make sure we are protecting established businesses and try to give clarity as soon as possible, rather than upsetting people.”
“We are very clear on what we are going to be saying to people: we do not want to hound or persecute fine respectable people who are operating very nice businesses, who are paying tax and who have invested heavily in their homes, in their accommodations, specifically for short-term lets. Even where they are located would not blend in with long-term letting because it could literally be putting two families up on top of each other in the same yard. An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach has them in his constituency, as do the Minister of State and other Deputies. They know what I am talking about. At the same time, there is the whole question for the Government of whether it wants to stop places from having any long-term residential accommodation because everything would be short-term. Of course, we want balance.”
“I acknowledge that the minimum figure of 20,000 for towns was a put in place. I had lobbied strongly for that because we want to protect the tourism capital of the western world, which, as everybody knows, is Killarney, County Kerry and there is no doubt about that. However, I am worried about people in towns and areas with a population of less than 20,000 where the planning guidelines will be put in place for short-term letting who have not been operating for more than seven years. The people need to see as soon as possible what will be put in place. The can has been kicked down the road a number of times and I do not want to be fighting about that. All I am saying is that people need clarity.”
“I see that as an upset and, being mild about it, a worry to the people involved in that business. Will the Department of housing commit to publishing a national planning statement, NPs, for short-term letting as soon as possible to be helpful to the sector? Will the Minister ensure that planning exemptions will be in place for those who have been operating for seven years or more? Most importantly, will those properties be deemed planning compliant by having a grandfather clause? We have to do something like that to protect the people. What about someone with a property at the back of their house, farm or wherever who was never going to change that from short-term letting to long-term letting? Instead of helping we would actually be hurting because we would be taking a viable business out of a community.”
“Their planning permission should be the fact that they have been at it for a certain number of years. That is the answer to that and it would tick the box on that issue. I have no sympathy for a person who comes along now and wants to buy a house here in Dublin, in Kerry or anywhere and they want to change that house and make it into a short-term let. Of course, they should have the opportunity. They can apply for planning permission. They can go through all the rigours that we put in place and I have no problem with that because we want to stop accommodation going out of long-term residential into short-term letting. However, the poor person who has been at it all along should really be left alone. My main questions for the Minister would be as follows: what does he mean by the most stringent regulations in Europe?”
“Of course, we should be doing everything we can to provide housing but in doing that, we have to recognise that people who have been involved in short-term lets for years and years are providing a service in the local economy. They are keeping the local shop, the local pub and the local restaurant going. The register is very welcome. The industry welcomes it but the delays and the lack of details and clarity are not helpful. There is nobody involved in short-term letting who says they do not want a register; that is not the case. The whole issue of planning is terrifying business people who operate in the sector and it should not be so. Of course, for people who are established and have been there for a number of years there should be a grandfather clause in place.”
“We should all recognise the value of short-term letting to rural economies. Of course, the Government should also recognise this. I appreciate the work that has been done in this regard by the Ministers involved. There are 1,800 short-term lets in Kerry worth over €17 million to the county's economy. On the Wild Atlantic Way between Kerry and Donegal, there are over 6,800 short-term lets all in rural counties across the west coast, which is worth €256 million to our economy. Over the weekend, the Minister, Deputy James Browne, stated that regulations around short-term letting will be among the most stringent in the EU. I have worries about exactly what that means. I do not want it to seem or to be that this Government is attacking people involved in short-term lettings because that is not what we should be doing.”
“I again thank the Minister and Minister of State involved. It has been dragging on for quite a while, however. When can people look forward to the necessary legislation being put in place, so that local authorities can allow these exemptions to go ahead?”
“I thank the Government, particularly the Minister of State, Deputy John Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy James Browne, for the excellent work they have done in progressing planning exemptions on modular homes. I take issue with some political commentators and people in the media who refer to them as beds in sheds. This is highly insulting to the excellent and reputable Irish companies that are producing these modular homes. If only they knew what they are talking about. The BER rating of many of these modular homes will be far superior to bungalows built as recently as 20, 25 and 30 years ago. In other words, they are a comfortable place for people to live for a period of time. I am not trying to say that it is a housing solution for everyone for all time but it is at certain times. It will be positive.”
“Sorry, just one second. It is a lesson for people in the future. I adored being a Minister of State in the Department of agriculture because I felt I was able to do good and I was passionate about my job.”
“I said I would if the opportunity was right and it was good for the people of Kerry, but now the people of Kerry are telling me that they are unhappy with this Government. They do not want to see me or any other Healy-Rae supporting it. I remember my late father today. He supported Governments when things were bad and things were tough. Last night before I went to bed, I asked him what I should do. The feeling I have is the Government, and its leader in particular, has not listened. It is a lesson for people-----”
“Since I believe this Government has let the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country and I will be tendering my resignation as a Minister of State from now. I ask that future Governments, and this Government, listen, be kind and be understanding. There are farmers who are really suffering so much at present. There are agricultural contractors who are really suffering. There are people who cried at the protests. These were workers. These were respectable people. They are the people I have represented since the first day I started. Any day I get up, I do not mean to hurt, offend or do harm to anybody. When I canvassed in the election of 2016, people asked me in Kerry whether if I got an opportunity to go into government, would I.”
“I have listened to the protestors. I have listened to the workers. I have listened to the people of Kerry - the canvassers who soldiered on long days and bad nights with me over the years. I have listened to my family and my friends, to the office staff in Kerry - Fiona and Kevin - and to the Department of agriculture people, such as Jacquie Casey and all of the people I adore. I have listened to my son Jackie, who has been my side all of the time. I have always looked at myself as a gauge of the people of rural Ireland, and I really believe that I am. When I see people begging on the side of the road, when I see grown men crying, and last night inside in the Plough Bar when I met tractormen, lorrymen and farmers who were telling me how unhappy they were, the leader of the country should have listened.”
“The national fertiliser database import figures show fertiliser stocks increased significantly during quarter 4 of 2025. That means there are reserves of fertiliser in the country. Many farmers thought ahead and have bought fertiliser already, meaning any fertiliser price shock may not be as acute as in the spring of 2022. The Deputy will recall that at that time, a pallet of fertiliser was like a pallet of gold because of the massive increase in price. We hope to be able to avoid a situation like that. If we look at the events overnight, the uncertainty that is there is something the Government can only follow and monitor. We will do our best to support the sector.”
“The Government will, of course, continuously assess the situation and try to respond in the most proactive and helpful way we can. It is too early to assess the full impact of increased energy and fertiliser costs but any spike in those prices obviously will have an impact on farmers' margins. The impact on fertiliser price will depend on how long the disruption lasts, whether physical energy production infrastructure is damaged and how secondary markets respond. Ironically, the concerns relating to the price-raising effect of the CBAM regulation caused the Irish farming industry to purchase significant volumes of product in advance of its coming into full effect on 1 January. As a result, it is understood there may be sufficient for fertiliser stocks to last until mid-April.”
“The national fertiliser database import figures show fertiliser stocks increased during quarter 4 of 2025, in advance of the introduction of CBAM, which stands to the sector in terms of supply in the early months of this year.”
“Deputy O'Donoghue is so correct in everything he says. If we take the events of last week, one of our highly respected carrot producers went into liquidation. That is a situation I, the Department, and the Government find very concerning. It drives home now more than ever before that the customers - the people who go into shops - should be looking to try to buy Irish produce. We are better at producing our goods than anyone else. Our growers are better than anyone else but it is up to us. It is like the local post office: if you do not use it, you lose it. It is the same with our vegetables. Of course the geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East is going to put unreal pressure on energy and fertiliser prices. The price of natural gas and oil are key components in fertiliser production.”
“The National Strategy for Horticulture 2023-2027 sets out a clear vision to grow a more profitable, value-added sector, driven by innovation and sustainability and provides a roadmap for the sector to achieve this potential. My Department is working collaboratively with stakeholders to progress all key strategic actions in the national strategy for horticulture.”
“It is too early to assess the full impact of current input price pressures on horticultural production systems and, in turn, on farmer margins. The impact will depend on how long the disruption lasts, whether physical energy production infrastructure is damaged, and how secondary markets respond. My Department is meeting with the fertiliser importers this week and will continue to monitor the situation closely. My Department provides a range of supports to growers in the horticulture sector through a number of schemes, including the scheme of investment aid for the development of the commercial horticulture sector, the EU producer organisation scheme for the fruit and vegetable sector and the schemes of investment aid for innovation and diversification in horticulture. The Government is fully committed to the Irish horticulture sector.”
“I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for the question. The Government fully recognises the importance of the horticultural sector to the economy and its contribution to food security in Ireland. My Department is closely monitoring developments regarding input costs. The current conflict in the Middle East is putting upward pressure on energy and fertiliser prices. The Strait of Hormuz is currently closed, leading to delays in the transportation of fertilisers. It has been estimated that 25% to 30% of global nitrogen fertiliser exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Agriculture in the EU as a whole is vulnerable to shocks in the availability and price of fertiliser due to limited internal production capacity and a reliance on imports. Ireland does not produce fertilisers and therefore is exposed to market shifts.”
“I know we have an excellent Minister in charge of it. I have every confidence in him doing everything but he cannot put people into the post offices. The people will have to go in themselves. Keep the post offices alive by giving your business to them, please.”
“Where I am from in Kerry, I am so proud of the people who, through good times and bad, have kept their doors open. I remember the good people who were there before whose only source of income was operating the local post office. In the village I am from, we had a great man by the name of Denis P. O'Sullivan. He and his brother John ran a great post office for many years before they retired and I took it over more than 20 years ago. A very kind man by the name of Padraig Sweeney runs my post office now. These people are so important in their local communities. They are respected, trustworthy, reliable, kind and friendly. They keep an eye on their customers. Everyone in this House and in the Seanad surely agrees, although we might not agree on many things, we all want to keep the local post offices going because they are vital and integral.”
“I should call it online shopping, not just Amazon. I want An Post to keep in mind same-day delivery. I would make that point to the Minister, and I know he is strong on it too. He has told me he is adamant we should have an every day delivery service in this country, and it is one of the last things we would ever give up on because the minute that every day service is lost, that would be a bad day for Ireland and its citizens. We want to offer and continue to offer the network. I could not emphasise enough how people should look at all the services their post office can provide. Not everything has to be online. People can support their post office by going in and supporting the business because there are friendly people working there and they are local jobs in local areas, be it a rural or urban post office.”