1. Michael J Healy-Rae was born on 9 January 1967 and is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dala for the Kerry constituency since 2016, and from 2011 to 2016 for the Kerry South constituency.
33 Facts About Michael Healy-Rae
1. 2.
Michael Healy-Rae served as Chair of the Committee on European Union Affairs from 2016 to 2020.
3.
Michael Healy-Rae has served as a Minister of State since January 2025.
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Michael Healy-Rae is the youngest son of Jackie Healy-Rae, who was a TD for Kerry South from 1997 to 2011; and the brother of Danny Healy-Rae, who is a TD.
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Michael Healy-Rae's mother, Julie Healy, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, US, but grew up in New York City.
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Michael Healy-Rae has 5 children, two of whom were found guilty and convicted of assault charges in 2019.
7.
Michael Healy-Rae retained his seat with an increased vote at the 2004 local elections.
8.
Michael Healy-Rae emerged as the winner, having received the largest number of votes from the "viewing public".
9.
On 29 June 2011, Michael Healy-Rae said that while he was not involved in the calls, he would pay the money back.
10.
Michael Healy-Rae was elected for the Kerry South constituency at the 2011 general election, when his father Jackie retired from national politics.
11.
Michael Healy-Rae missed two-thirds of votes in his first Dail term, despite being signed in for his expenses on each day a vote was taken.
12.
Michael Healy-Rae was appointed to the board of the Citizens' Information Board in April 2009.
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Michael Healy-Rae was asked twice to resign his position from the board because of a conflict of interest between his subsequent membership of the Dail and his membership of a body advising the Minister for Social Protection.
14.
Michael Healy-Rae has raised The Hum in Dail Eireann after witnessing it himself while meeting some of his constituents who were "nearly gone out of their minds" with it.
15.
Michael Healy-Rae topped the poll in Kerry at the 2016 general election; his brother Danny was elected alongside him.
16.
On 9 April 2024, following the resignation of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, Michael was nominated for the position by his brother, Danny Healy-Rae.
17.
Michael Healy-Rae was the only candidate to oppose Simon Harris, who was elected by 88 votes to 69.
18.
At the 2024 general election, Michael Healy-Rae was re-elected to the Dail, topping the poll in his constituency.
19.
In 2018 Michael Healy-Rae stated that he did not believe Ireland had a major alcohol problem, countering claims from anti-alcohol campaigners highlighting the country's position as 20th in alcohol consumption within the OECD.
20.
Michael Healy-Rae has defended Irish pub culture, seeing it as an important social space for conversation and community.
21.
In January 2012, Michael Healy-Rae proposed changing Ireland's number plate system so that the supposedly unlucky number 13 would be dropped for the year 2013 to save the Irish car industry.
22.
On social issues, Michael Healy-Rae was opposed to the smoking ban, arguing that elderly smokers were forced outside in harsh conditions.
23.
On cannabis, Michael Healy-Rae expressed support for its medicinal use but remained opposed to its legalisation for recreational purposes.
24.
Michael Healy-Rae stated that his decision was based on personal conviction rather than animosity towards the LGBT community, emphasising that he had never intended to impose his views on others.
25.
Michael Healy-Rae has maintained that he prefers children to be raised in a traditional family structure, though he acknowledged the complexity of family dynamics.
26.
Michael Healy-Rae was opposed to same-sex couples adopting children, reflecting his belief in the importance of having both a mother and father in a child's upbringing.
27.
Michael Healy-Rae opposed euthanasia, citing a belief that only God should decide the time of death.
28.
In February 2018, Michael Healy-Rae listed 11 properties for letting or rental and two either being renovated or awaiting planning permission in the register of TDs' interests.
29.
In March 2025 the 2024 Register of Members Interests was published, where Michael Healy-Rae declared himself the owner of almost 30 properties of land including houses owned for rental purposes, as well as contracts with the Department of Integration for accommodating Ukrainian refugees and a HAP contract with Kerry County Council.
30.
Michael Healy-Rae has listed in the register of TDs interests that he is a postmaster, farmer, plant hire business operator and shop owner.
31.
When controversy over the leasing of the hotel Michael Healy-Rae said that he was not involved in the leasing of the hotel, but he later accepted the Skellig Hotel Experience held the lease.
32.
Michael Healy-Rae was sold in December 2019 to Paul Collins who runs direct provision centres.
33.
Michael Healy-Rae was adamant that he had no knowledge that it would be converted into a direct provision centre.