Danny Healy-Rae 'a disgrace' for jibe about gender of Paul Murphy's child in heated Dáil row

Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae in the Dáil chamber. In exchanges about the Finance Bill, Mr Healy-Rae said to PBP TD Paul Murphy: 'What do you know? Sure you do not know whether your own baby is a boy or a girl'. File Picture: Maxwell's 

Independent TD Danny Healy-Rae has been labelled a "disgrace" and a "fucking asshole" when he brought up the gender of People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy's child during a debate on the Finance Bill on Tuesday.

As deputies discussed the Universal Social Charge in the Dáil, the Kerry TD used his speaking time to call for its abolition, describing it as a "punitive tax that affects everyone" before criticising Government spending on immigration and climate action, and the introduction of reduced speed limits.

Labour TD Ged Nash interrupted, saying there were "serious amendments to debate".

In response, Mr Healy-Rae claimed he was being "heckled". 

The Ceann Comhairle then reminded the Kerry TD that those present in the chamber were there to discuss the Finance Bill.

Mr Healy Rae then claimed that Mr Murphy and his fellow PBP TDs "voted for the carbon tax and you said it actually was not enough".

When Mr Murphy replied that they did not, Mr Healy Rae replied: "What do you know? Sure you do not know whether your own baby is a boy or a girl."

Mr Murphy then told Mr Healy Rae to "fuck off".

"Asshole. You are a fucking asshole," Mr Murphy said.

“Well, it is the truth. He told it loud. I did not make it up; he told us himself," Mr Healy-Rae replied.

After his wife gave birth in 2023, Mr Murphy told the Irish Times that the couple had decided to name their child Juniper whether it was a boy or girl and that they would not be “gendering” Juniper. He told the paper: 

We’re not gendering it. So we’re not describing Juniper as a boy, we’re describing Juniper as a baby, but it is male. 

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North-West, Paul McCauliffe, called on the Kerry TD to withdraw his remarks, while Social Democrats TD for Dublin North-West, Róisín Shortall, called Mr Healy-Rae "a disgrace".

Labour TD Ged Nash also said the remarks should be withdrawn, saying Mr Healy Rae should apologise to Mr Murphy and his family.

"This nonsense is tolerated far too much. It is personalised and it is insulting," Mr Nash said.

The Ceann Comhairle then called on Mr Healy-Rae to withdraw the remark, saying it was "personal and inappropriate".

“It is the truth but if it will please you, I will withdraw it," the Kerry TD said.

"It is for the individual itself that I am concerned.” 

Mr Nash labelled this "a qualified withdrawal", adding that the Kerry TD was "an asshole".

When Mr Healy-Rae attempted to reply, Ms Shortall again called him a "a disgrace" and urged him to "stay quiet".