Danny Healy-Rae
{{short description|Irish politician (born 1954)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-suffix = TD
| image = Danny Healy Rae Jan 2025.jpeg
| caption = Healy-Rae in 2025
| office = Teachta Dála
| term_start = February 2016
| term_end =
| constituency = Kerry
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|7|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Kilgarvan, County Kerry, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Independent
| spouse = {{marriage|Mary Burke|1985}}
| children = 4
| relatives = Michael Healy-Rae (brother)
| father = Jackie Healy-Rae
| alma_mater =
| website = |
}}
Daniel Healy-Rae (born 16 July 1954) is an Irish independent politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Kerry constituency since the 2016 general election.{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03/|title=Danny Healy-Rae|work=Oireachtas Members Database|access-date=13 July 2019|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617220502/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/member/Danny-Healy-Rae.D.2016-10-03/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/767357-danny-healy-rae/|title=Election 2016: Danny Healy-Rae|work=RTÉ News|date=28 February 2016|access-date=28 February 2016|archive-date=1 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301005358/http://www.rte.ie/news/election-2016/candidates/767357-danny-healy-rae/|url-status=live}} He is part of the Healy-Rae family.
He is a son of Jackie Healy-Rae and brother of fellow constituency TD Michael Healy-Rae. He has worked in plant hire and owns a pub in Kilgarvan, businesses associated with the Healy-Rae family. Prior to entering national politics, he was a member of Kerry County Council from 2003 to 2016 for the Killarney local electoral area.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=398|title=Danny Healy-Rae|work=ElectionsIreland.org|access-date=13 July 2019|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919014112/https://www.electionsireland.org/candidate.cfm?ID=398|url-status=live}} His daughter, Maura and son, Johnny are both elected members of Kerry County Council for the Killarney and Kenmare local electoral areas respectively.
Political career
Healy-Rae was co-opted on to Kerry County Council in 2003 representing the Killarney Local electoral area. He replaced his father, Jackie Healy-Rae, who was forced to resign his seat following the end of the dual mandate. He was re-elected to the council in the 2004, 2009 and 2014 Local Elections.
Healy-Rae was first elected to Dáil Éireann in the 2016 general election in the newly-formed constituency of Kerry. His daughter Maura was co-opted into his council seat.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20387415.html|title=Maura Healy-Rae formally co-opted onto Kerry County Council|first=Anne|last=Lucey|date=15 March 2016|website=Irish Examiner}}
At the 2020 general election, his share of the first-preference votes fell from 12.6% to 11.2%, and he was re-elected on the sixth count.{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/kerry-results-danny-healy-rae-retains-seat-on-sixth-count-1.4165274 |title=Kerry results: Danny Healy-Rae retains seat on sixth count |first=Neil |last=Michael |date=10 February 2020 |orig-date=9 February 2020 |newspaper=Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=6 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606210701/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/kerry-results-danny-healy-rae-retains-seat-on-sixth-count-1.4165274 |archive-date=6 June 2021 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/kerry |title=Election 2020: Kerry |date=10 February 2020 |newspaper=Irish Times |location=Dublin |access-date=6 June 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210606212541/https://www.irishtimes.com/election2020/kerry |archive-date=6 June 2021 }}
He was re-elected to the Dáil in the 2024 general election and along with his brother, Michael, negotiated with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on a programme for government.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/01/15/live-latest-updates-ireland-new-government-coalition-regional-independent-group-michael-and-danny-healy-rae/|title=Programme for government as it happened: ‘Fair but firmer’ migration system, tax breaks and regeneration of Dublin’s main streets|website=The Irish Times}} The two brothers supported Micheál Martin's election as Taoiseach and Michael Healy-Rae secured a Minister of State position in the Department of Agriculture.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiokerry.ie/news/michael-healy-rae-has-been-confirmed-as-the-junior-minister-in-the-department-of-agriculture-419310|title=Michael Healy Rae confirmed as junior minister | Radio Kerry News|website=RadioKerry.ie}}
Following the formation of the 35th government Danny Healy-Rae sought to avail of opposition speaking time as a member of the Regional Independent Group however this was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy after a protracted row.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/02/03/ceann-comhairle-rules-regional-independents-cannot-form-dail-technical-group/|title=Ceann Comhairle rules Regional Independents cannot be viewed as members of the Opposition|website=The Irish Times}}
Political views
Danny Healy-Rae has garnered a reputation for being one of Irish politics' outspoken figures, and has courted controversy on a number of occasions.{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/02/meet-the-healy-raes-the-rural-irish-populists-who-have-never-lost-an-election |title=Meet the Healy-Raes: the rural Irish populists who have never lost an electrion |website= The Guardian|date= 2 February 2020}}
=Drink driving permits=
In November 2019, Healy-Rae gained attention for proposing 'drink-drive permits’ for people in rural Ireland. He proposed that this would help ease rural isolation and keep pubs open, allowing drivers to have two or three pints of beer before being allowed to drive home on designated roads.{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/healy-rae-call-for-two-pints-driving-permit-rejected-as-irresponsible-1.4083096?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Foireachtas%2Fhealy-rae-call-for-two-pints-driving-permit-rejected-as-irresponsible-1.4083096|title= Healy-Rae call for two pints driving rejected as 'irresponsible' |website= www.irishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 2 November 2019}}{{cite web |url= https://www.newstalk.com/news/healy-rae-proposal-drink-driving-925158|title= Danny Healy-Rae calls for drink-driving permits to reduce rural isolation |website= www.newstalk.com| publisher= Newstalk |date= 14 November 2019}}{{cite web |url= https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/all-work-and-no-play-makes-jack-a-dull-boy-rural-drivers-should-get-a-local-two-pint-permit-danny-healy-rae-tells-the-dail-38693016.html|title= 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy' – rural drivers should get a 'local two-pint permit', Danny Healy-Rae tells the Dail |website= www.independent.ie| publisher= Irish Independent |date= 14 November 2019}}
Healy-Rae, himself a pub owner, also accused the Irish government of inflicting "damage and mayhem" on rural Ireland with existent drink-driving laws.{{cite web |url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30964343.html|title= Danny Healy Rae's call for 'drink-drive permits' criticised by road safety groups |website= www.irishexaminer.com| publisher= Irish Examiner |date= 15 November 2019}}{{cite web |url= https://www.todayfm.com/news/danny-healy-rae-proposes-drink-driving-permit-925329|title= Danny Healy Rae proposes drink driving permit |website= www.todayfm.com| publisher= Today FM |date= 14 November 2019}}
His comments in the Dáil were met with derision and disapproval by fellow politicians and road safety groups alike.{{cite web |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/danny-healy-rae-drink-driving-nonsense-4891886-Nov2019/|title= 'Irresponsible nonsense': Tanaiste dismisses Danny Healy-Rae's call for drink-driving 'permit' |website= www.thejournal.ie| publisher= The Journal |date= 14 November 2019}}
=Climate crisis=
Healy-Rae has publicly denied climate change on multiple occasions, stating that he "does not subscribe to climate change" and that "whatever we do on this Earth will not change the weather."{{cite web |url= https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/danny-healy-rae-says-does-23948499|title= Danny Healy-Rae says he 'does not subscribe to climate change' and 'whatever we do on this Earth will not change the weather' |website= www.irishmirror.ie| publisher= Irish Mirror |date= 20 April 2021}}
He began to promote climate change denial during 2016, when he stated during an interview with Hot Press magazine that his views about the climate crisis were based on the words of the Bible, claiming that the story of Noah's Ark showed that weather events had fluctuated throughout the centuries.{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/danny-healy-rae-noah-s-ark-supports-climate-theory-1.2759644|title= Danny Healy-Rae: Noah's Ark supports climate theory |website= www.irishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 18 August 2016}} Healy-Rae also stated in the Dáil that "God above is in charge of the weather and we here can't do anything about it" during a debate on the subject.{{cite web |url= https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/only-god-controls-the-weather-danny-healy-rae-tells-climate-change-debate-1.2635192|title= 'Only God controls the weather', Danny Healy-Rae tells climate change debate |website= www.irishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 4 May 2016}}
His climate denial escalated in 2017 when he promoted falsehoods about the climate crisis being a money-making scheme and claiming that the measures put in place following the Paris Agreement were unfair. His comments wrongly conflated climate change with weather.{{cite web |url= https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/it-rained-for-two-years-in-1740s-healy-rae-rejects-climate-change-36241319.html|title= 'IT rained for two years in 1740s' – Healy-Rae rejects climate change |website= www.independent.ie| publisher= Irish Independent |date= 19 October 2017}}
In February 2020 he issued a public apology having previously stated "to hell with the planet" during an interview with Virgin Media News when asked about his responsibility to protect the environment as well as his constituents.{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2020/0210/1114422-danny-healy-rae/|title= Danny Healy Rae apologises for climate comments |website= www.rte.ie| publisher= RTE |date= 11 February 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30980875.html|title= 'I'm very sorry': Danny Healy-Rae withdraws 'to hell with the planet' remark |website= www.irishexaminer.com| publisher= Irish Examiner |date= 10 February 2020}} He had said "Vote for the people, stay with the people, and to hell with the planet and the fellas that says we must save the planet and forget about the people – I'm not one of those people, I make no apologies to anyone anywhere for that and I stay with the people as long as the people want me" {{cite web |url= https://www.thejournal.ie/cleo-murphy-danny-healy-rae-green-party-climate-change-5000707-Feb2020/|title= Danny Healy-Rae apologises for 'to hell with planet' comment after confrontation with Green Party candidate |website= www.thejournal.ie| publisher= The Journal |date= 10 February 2020}}
=COVID-19=
In May 2020, he called for the Leaving Certificate to go ahead with proper social distancing due to COVID-19, possibly using community centres and public libraries.{{Cite news |last=O'Mahoney |first=John |date=8 May 2020 |title=Michael says no but Danny wants exams to proceed |url=https://www.killarneytoday.com/michael-says-no-danny-wants-exams-proceed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518024814/https://www.killarneytoday.com/michael-says-no-danny-wants-exams-proceed/ |archive-date=18 May 2020 |access-date=28 May 2020 |work=KillarneyToday.com}}
In July 2021, Healy-Rae courted controversy when his pub was at the centre of an alleged breach of COVID-19 regulations after video and images were shared on social media showing a large crowd gathered inside the pub as part of a wedding celebration.{{cite web |url=https://www.joe.ie/news/gardai-launch-investigation-indoor-gathering-danny-healy-rae-controversy-729023|title= Gardai launch investigation into "indoor gathering" after Danny Healy Rae controversy |website= www.joe.ie| publisher= Joe |date= 5 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda%C3%AD-making-inquiries-about-gathering-at-healy-rae-pub-in-kerry-1.4640912?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime-and-law%2Fgarda%25C3%25AD-making-inquiries-about-gathering-at-healy-rae-pub-in-kerry-1.4640912|title= Gardai making inquiries about gathering at Healy-Rae pub in Kerry|website= www.irishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 6 August 2021}}
The footage showed a large gathering of people celebrating without wearing face masks (although these were not legally required), with Danny Healy-Rae pulling a pint at the bar during a time when the Irish government had implemented controls on the number of people able to gather indoors due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40704581.html|title= Healy-Rae on garda probe into pub Covid breach: I'm not talking about it to you' |website= www.irishexaminer.com| publisher= Irish Examiner |date= 23 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-investigating-gathering-inside-kerry-pub-after-healy-rae-photo-controversy-40767757.html|title= Gardai investigating 'gathering' inside Kerry pub after Healy-Rae photo controversy|website= www.independent.ie| publisher= Irish Independent |date= 19 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2021/0805/1239166-danny-healy-rae/|title= Healy-Raes to 'look at circumstances' as pub video emerges|website= www.rte.ie| publisher= RTE |date= 5 August 2021}}
Healy-Rae refused to comment on the Garda investigation into the incident, as did his brother, Michael, who was also present at the party.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/healy-raes-decline-to-comment-on-video-of-alleged-covid-19-breaches-in-kerry-pub-1.4640084?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fhealy-raes-decline-to-comment-on-video-of-alleged-covid-19-breaches-in-kerry-pub-1.4640084|title= Healy-Raes decline to comment on video of alleged Covid-19 breaches in Kerry pub|website= www.irishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 5 August 2021}}
Healy-Rae and his brother, fellow Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, have been trenchant critics of the government's COVID-19 policies, particularly for the hospitality and tourism sectors.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/michael-healy-rae-has-no-ideaaboutnature-of-garda-investigation-into-alleged-covid-breach-at-brother-dannys-pub-40782625.html|title= Michael Healy-Rae has 'no idea' about nature of Garda investigation into alleged Covid breach at brother Danny's pub |website= www.independent.ie| publisher= Irish Independent |date= 24 August 2021}}
=Same-sex adoption and abortion=
Healy-Rae opposes abortion and was a prominent commentator against changing legislation during the 2018 Irish abortion referendum.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/healy-rae-says-his-views-on-abortion-will-never-change-1.3359338?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Foireachtas%2Fhealy-rae-says-his-views-on-abortion-will-never-change-1.3359338|title= Healy-Rae says his views on abortion will never change|website= www.theirishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 18 January 2018}} During the referendum he was widely criticised for employing a number of shock tactics that were determined to be insensitive and for 'shock factor’.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/shock-tactic-danny-healy-rae-criticised-for-aborted-baby-in-a-bucket-story-1.3689733|title= 'Shock tactic': Danny Healy-Rae criticised for aborted baby in a bucket story|website= www.theirishtimes.com| publisher= The Irish Times |date= 7 November 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/danny-healy-rae-dail-3915372-Mar2018/|title= Danny Healy-Rae criticised for 'vile comments' in the Dail about abortion|website= www.thejournal.ue| publisher= The Journal |date= 21 March 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://extra.ie/2018/03/22/news/politics/danny-healy-rae-abortion-remarks-dail|title= Danny Healy-Rae criticised for 'hurtful' remarks about abortion in the Dail|website= www.extra.ie| publisher= Extra.ie |date= 22 March 2018}}
He has also repeatedly affirmed that he is against same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption, calling it unnatural for a gay couple to adopt a child.{{cite web |url=https://www.hotpress.com/culture/the-12-interviews-of-xmas-michael-healy-rae-on-courting-controversy-21552436|title= The 12 interviews of xmas: Michael Healy-Rae on courting controversy|website= www.hotpress.com| publisher= Hot Press |date= 15 December 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://gcn.ie/sex-couples-shouldnt-allowed-raise-children-says-danny-healy-rae/|title= Same-sex couples shouldn't be allowed to raise children, says Danny Healy Rae|website= www.gcn.ie| publisher= GCN |date= 18 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-20222612.html|title= Healy-Rae to vote against gay marriage|website= www.irishexaminer.com| publisher= Irish Examiner |date= 14 February 2013}}
On the latter he commented, "What was I very worried about – and still am – is that two men, or two women, could adopt a little baby girl or a little baby boy and these babies would have no say in it."{{cite web |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/danny-healy-rae-claims-its-8651948|title= Danny Healy-Rae claims it's not 'natural' for gay couples to have children and he worries for their kids|website= www.irishmirror.ie| publisher= Irish Mirror |date= 18 August 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/dont-let-gay-couples-raise-children-says-healy-rae-23h88s8fb|title= Don't let gay couples raise children says Healy-Rae|website= The Times|date= 18 August 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Current TDs}}
{{Kerry (Dáil constituency)/TDs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Healy-Rae, Danny}}
Category:Members of Kerry County Council
Category:Members of the 32nd Dáil
Category:Members of the 33rd Dáil
Category:Irish people of American descent
Category:People from Kilgarvan
Category:Independent local councillors in the Republic of Ireland