'I always thought I was a voice of Ireland': Michael Healy-Rae resigns after fuel protests

Some 92 TDs voted confidence in the Government while 78 voted no confidence

Kerry TD and outgoing junior agriculture minister Michael  Healy-Rae hit out at his former government colleagues and Taoiseach Micheál Martin over the handling of fuel protests, telling the Dáil that Mr Martin 'should have listened' Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The Government survived a motion of no confidence, but lost a junior minister as Michael Healy-Rae sensationally resigned on the floor of the Dáil.

The Kerry TD and outgoing junior agriculture minister hit out at his former Government colleagues and Taoiseach Micheál Martin over the handling of fuel protests, telling the Dáil that Mr Martin "should have listened" and that "this Government has let the people of Ireland down".

Government sources said they had been blindsided by Mr Healy-Rae's decision. A spokesperson for the Taoiseach confirmed there had been no prior warning. 

Several senior ministers told the Irish Examiner they had no indication the resignation was coming and one minister suggested it was a “rash decision” that was only made on the day.

Others speculated that Mr Martin would have been pushed to sack Mr Healy-Rae if his brother Danny had voted against the Government in the motion.

Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House after his departure, Mr Healy-Rae said he had been “mulling” over his decision to resign in recent days.

“I always thought I was a voice of Ireland, rural Ireland, definitely a voice for Kerry. I felt this was the right decision to make, to stand with the people of Kerry and not to be part of a Government that I wasn’t happy with,” Mr Healy-Rae said.

At the end of the day, I’ve made this decision and I’m standing true to the people that elected me in the first instance.

Mr Healy-Rae said he did not regret going into Government and there was “nothing personal” in his decision to resign. 

He said he had “grave reservations” about the leadership of Mr Martin. On the €505m package of measures, which he helped negotiate, Mr Healy-Rae said it should have been “a lot more”.

Mr Healy-Rae said he and his brother Danny always “gauge” what is right and it was a decision they needed to make “on behalf of the people that are our bosses”. He rejected any assertions that he was forced into the decision by his brother.

The Government won the motion: 92 TDs voted confidence in the Government while 78 voted no confidence. 

Mr Martin said during the debate that "we need to talk about the huge impact of rising oil prices" but also discuss protecting jobs and getting Ireland through a period of international turmoil.

He said the immediate focus has to be oil prices.

"The opposition claims the Government has done nothing...this is manifestly untrue," he said, adding that the rise in prices is little to do with his Government, but rather to do with the war in the Middle East.

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In fiery exchanges, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Government "lacks empathy" and that "its time is up".

Ms McDonald criticised the Government for allowing the Dáil to rise for 20 days over Easter. She wrote to Mr Martin asking for the Dáil to reconvene but he "ignored me because you know your time is up".

"You demeaned peaceful protesters... because you decided it was beneath you," she said.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the cost-of-living crisis did not emerge six weeks ago when US president Donald Trump launched a war in Iran.

“It has been growing and growing for years, and this Government has had the resources to provide meaningful support,” Ms Cairns said.