If ever there was an illustration of the power of the Healy-Raes in Kerry, it wasn’t just the convincing — and some might say inevitable — vote they received.

Confirming his status as Kerry’s biggest vote-getter, tallies put him at topping the poll with 16,695 votes.

Michael Healy-Rae is set to top the poll in Kerry according to the final unofficial tally for the five-seat constituency.

The Sinn Féin surge looks set to claim a major scalp in Kerry in the form of Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae, according to the latest TG4/Ipsos MRBI poll.

For almost 30 years, in terms of Kerry politics, we have spoken of the Spring dynasty, and it is a real reflection of the low ebb in which Labour finds itself when it cannot even stand a candidate in the Kingdom.

The Government has been accused of seeking to implement fresh cuts totalling €45 million to the funding of pharmacies on top of cuts introduced during the crash.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has told Radio Kerry that he can prove he was in the Dáil on the morning of June 21, 2018, but that he also managed to make it to south Kerry for the burial of an uncle of his son-in-law by lunch time.

Concerns that Waterford University Hospital is being left behind within the wider group are widespread, hears Catherine Shanahan.

The Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has declined to comment following a report he was attending a funeral in South Kerry in June 2018 while signed into the Dáil for a key address by EU leader Jean-Claude Juncker.

Meanwhile the Healy-Raes now see a gap and may well go for the chance of a third seat, it is strongly rumoured.

The HSE has been urged to step up its efforts to publicise the Doctor’s Visit Cards in order to increase their take-up.

End the “ridiculous situation” where patients tested privately are denied treatment publicly, Fianna Fáil's John Brassil has told Health Minister, Simon Harris.

Management at University Hospital Kerry has urged people to “keep our Emergency Department services for the patients who need them most.”

It would probably be impossible to establish a social welfare scheme that satisfies all of those who rely on it, those who

Thousands of vulnerable citizens are being denied supports and then forced to try to overturn funding decisions by the Department of Social Protection.

John Brassil is calling on the Education Minister to extend exemptions to Junior Cert pupils as currently, only those sitting the Leaving Cert can be exempt.

More than 127,000 people are on waiting lists for basic health services such as physiotherapy and eye tests, with more than 18,000 left waiting for over a year.

The Kerry local elections have thrown up mixed messages for the main parties.

The extraordinary performance of the Healy-Rae siblings was the story of the weekend at the count centre in Killarney, where Johnny headed up Kenmare and Maura won Killarney minutes later.

Kerry TD John Brassil has said that Kerry County Council is “above reproach” with regard to allegations of interference with the county’s supplementary register of electors.

More than €1.2bn has been spent by the HSE in reimbursing biologic medicines over the last three years with just over €2.2m spent on more affordable biosimilar medicines, it has emerged.

More than €1.2 billion has been spent by the HSE in reimbursing biologic medicines over the last three years with just over €2.2m on more affordable biosimilar medicines, it has emerged.

The loss of key staff at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) is jeopardising its ability to function safely, according to local Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil.

A recall of a blood pressure and heart medicine used by over 60,0000 Irish patients has “caused consternation”, with pharmacists inundated with patient requests for alternatives at a time when the supply of unaffected medicines is constrained.

It’s the last chance saloon for passenger jeeps.

The embattled outgoing chief of the health service said he doubts anyone else will want his €186,000-a-year job.

Transport Minister Shane Ross has been told to ignore the Government’s “all singing, all dancing” launch of the National Planning Framework and instead travel to Kerry to fix “dangerous” rural roads.

A politician who is close to the Hayes family at the centre of the Kerry Babies controversy has said any potential fresh investigation into how gardaí obtained signed statements about what happened should only take place if it leaves the family alone.

Joanne Hayes, who was wrongly accused of the murder of Baby John, has welcomed an apology for what she went through, but her only request now is to be given privacy and allowed to live in peace, a family friend has said.

The tribunal into the Kerry babies was like a “medieval witch hunt” with the victims burning at the stake and the crowd dancing around the fire, the Dáil heard.

Funding for maintaining the national road network is to be cut by as much as 30%, local authorities have been told.

Patients with genetic emphysema should have access restored, by the end of next week, to a drug withheld for more than a month in a row over who should pay to administer it.

The failure to set up a separate evaluation process for orphan drugs and the lack of opportunity for patient engagement when considering their reimbursement has been criticised by politicians from all parties.

Patients in receipt of a drug that slows the progression of genetic emphysema do not know when they will receive their next dose because of confusion over who is to administer the drug.

The 53% surge in car imports from Britain since the Brexit vote is a major challenge for the Irish car industry, Fianna Fáil has warned.

A number of Fianna Fáil TDs have hit out at “insensitive and inappropriate” complaints about Ireland South MEP’s Brian Crowley‘s non-attendance at EU meetings.

The removal of an ambulance from Millstreet will have a knock-on effect beyond the town and its hinterland and beyond to other areas that were serviced by the the service.

Killarney had to rely on ambulances from outside the catchment area in two out of five emergencies as there is only one based locally, according to information released to Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil.

Patients at Kerry General Hospital face serious “clinical risks” to their care if the HSE fails to provide an extra €5m in funding this year.

Measures are needed to ensure that people are cared for at home safely, the head of the State’s health services watchdog said yesterday.

The hole in the ozone layer was caused by nuclear testing and “not by cans of hairspray or whatever”, claims Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae.

There is confusion among parents over long-term plans by St John of God’s management for a centre for disabled people in Beaufort, Co Kerry.

The Kerry independent councillor, Michael Cahill, who represents South and West Kerry, and who had left Fianna Fáil in 2011, is to formally rejoin the party on Monday, it is understood.

Boxers and those more used to bruising political debates will take part in the “Brawl in the Hall” to raise funds for the local GAA club.

New junior minister Sean Canney is among a dozen former county and city councillors who will receive golden handshake payments from the local authorities after securing Dáil seats in February.

The Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is coming under fire in Kerry for not pursuing an early offer of a senior ministry; and there is criticism also that the Healy-Rae team — who voted different ways on Friday — did not secure a specific deal for Kerry.