Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Kerry could well end up with two voices at the cabinet table when the next government is formed, according to the latest speculation emerging from the corridors of power.
Outgoing Education Minister, Norma Foley, is expected to secure another high office while it is being reported widely today that brothers Michael and Danny Healy-Rae are pushing for a super-junior ministerial post in return for their support for the anticipated Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Regional Independents coalition agreement.
Experienced political observers in Dáil Éireann have suggested that the brothers from Kilgarvan would also seek a constituency deal for Kerry, along the lines of the pact their father, Jackie Healy-Rae, reached with then Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern after the 2007 general election.
That deal, said to be worth in the region of 2100 million for Kerry, included a €66 million package for roads int he county and €100 million for new hospital developments in Kenmare and Dingle.
Picture: John Reidy
In the event of the Healy-Raes being offered a junior ministerial role, it is more likely that younger brother, Michael, would sit at the cabinet table given that his poll-topping performance of over 18,500 first preferences in the November election was one of the biggest votes in the entire country.
Sources insist, however, that Michael and Danny Healy-Rae will come as a package in the coalition talks and they are expected to hold further negotiations with the two main parties in the coming days.
In late December, the brothers along with Danny’s daughter and son, Cllrs Maura and Johnny, and Michael’s son Cllr Jackie, met with Tánaiste, Micheal Martin, for what they described as a very useful and progressive meeting that lasted over an hour.
“This was the second meeting with the Tánaiste with a view to supporting an incoming government,” Michael told KillarneyToday.com.
“The Healy-Rae team worked diligently on an initial briefing document for the Tánaiste that contains both policy priorities and, most importantly, deliverable key projects for the county of Kerry that was discussed in detail in Government Buildings,” he said.
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