There was a saying that had great prevalence here a generation ago: ‘A Close Call – Said Dave Geaney’ – and it was attributed to one of our colourful vets. There were several more but the one above will do nicely for what I’m at here.
Deputy Michael Healy-Rae is currently recovering in Cork University Hospital after a farm accident or ‘A Close Call’ in Kilgarvan yesterday evening.
He is being kept in Cork University Hospital for tests and observation.
This has been confirmed by his son Jackie Junior who said “my father is recovering well at present.”
There’s no keeping the Kilgarvan political clan out of the news of late and Michael appeared on The Week in Politics also yesterday after a hectic St. Patrick’s Day schedule of visits to his new constituents.
And there’s the news of the house in Castleisland and the Irish Water contract. Look at what has happened in Kerry since Danny and Michael were elected to Dáil Éireann. Ultan Dillane has burst onto the Irish Rugby scene and fellow Tralee man Brian Cooper rode a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner the other day.
There are people here only wishing that the political stalemate could be sorted out so that the brothers’ common sense call for a Minister for Rural Affairs can be heard in the chambers and beyond. Michael Healy Rae’s own name was linked with a job with just that title before the weekend. And fellow turf-cutting campaigner and TD, Michael Fitzmaurice was linked with a ‘big job’ in the department of agriculture.
Here’s wishing Deputy Healy Rae a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile: Any talks or hopes of a coalition being formed between Fine Gael or Fianna Fail have been thrown into serious doubt following on from revelations by Deputy Healy-Rae.
He has confirmed that following on from lengthy discussions with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Michael Noonan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin that it looks very uncertain that any common ground can be formed between the two parties.
“It now looks following on from these discussions that the only possibility of a Government is a minority Government” which he stated “it would be very hard to put together,” he said.
Deputy Healy-Rae has actively encouraged the two leaders to come together sooner rather than later because if they cannot come to a successful conclusion the other opportunities should be explored as a matter of urgency, as he believes delaying on this matter is not helpful for the economy as uncertainty is not good for business, tourism , farming or any other sector of irish society.
