Simon Harris says ‘never say never’ on Michael Healy-Rae returning to Government

Tánaiste praises former junior minister's work while expressing sympathy over the public family dispute

Simon Harris says he would 'never say never' to Michael Healy-Rae returning to Government. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Tánaiste Simon Harris has left the door open to Michael Healy-Rae returning to Government, saying he would “never say never”.

He also described as “painful” the public row between Michael Healy-Rae and his brother Danny.

A rift has emerged within the Healy-Rae camp, with Michael accusing Danny of “pulling him overboard” and out of Government.

The dispute followed a Radio Kerry interview Danny Healy-Rae gave on the eve of a confidence motion in the Government, during which he said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers should remove Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Tánaiste as party leaders.

Michael Healy-Rae resigned from his role as junior minister with responsibility for forestry and horticulture the following day.

‘Never say never’

Asked on his way into Cabinet whether he would welcome Michael Healy-Rae back into Government, Mr Harris said he would “never say never”, noting that the Kerry TD had played an “important role” in Programme for Government negotiations.

“He was engaged in that process, engaged in good faith,” he said.

“I believe he was a very good minister, by the way, for forestry. I believe he was very passionate and committed in relation to that. I have a very good professional relationship with him.” He added: “But never say never in politics. The door always remains open to having conversations and engaging into the future.”

Mr Harris said it is “always painful to see family acrimony play out in public” and that it had been a “difficult time for the Healy-Raes”.

Taoiseach declines to speculate

Taoiseach Micheál Martin did not directly answer, when asked by the Irish Examiner, whether the door remained open for Mr Healy-Rae to return to Government.

“I think Michael is particularly upset that he’s resigned from the ministry, I think he enjoyed it, he enjoyed being minister for forestry and for horticulture in the agricultural department," Mr Martin said.

“I’m not going to go back over what happened, but I think he perhaps regrets the entire situation now, and he’s made his comments in terms of his recent interviews, but he certainly enjoyed being in Government and getting some positive work done, and so forth.

“On a personal level, I wish him well, of course I do.” 

Fianna Fáil TD for Kerry Norma Foley, meanwhile, said the dispute was a “family matter” between the Healy-Raes and that she was not going to place herself in the middle of it.