Independent TDs for Kerry, Michael Healy-Rae and Danny Healy-Rae have reached an agreement to support the incoming government, with the draft programme to be published today (Wednesday, January 15).
Agriland understands that Deputy Michael Healy-Rae will be appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with special responsibility for forestry, horticulture and farm safety.
The new government will consist of members from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with the parties to be ratified by the newly formed, Regional Independent Group, and the Healy-Raes.
Speaking to reporters outside Leinster House, Deputy Healy-Rae confirmed that he will be taking up a role as a Minister of State within the next government.
However, the Kerry TD said the decision will be confirmed by the incoming Taoiseach.
There is currently uncertainty around who will be the next Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with talks that Fine Gael Minister Martin Heydon may be in the running and that Minister Charlie McConalogue may be dropped from cabinet.
It is also understood that Independent TD Noel Grealish will be appointed a super junior minister role at the DAFM, and Seán Canney of the regional group will be appointed a super junior minister at the department of transport.
Michael Healy-Rae
The Healy-Raes thanked the people of Co. Kerry for their votes, and said that the reason why negotiations lasted so long was “to ensure that our stamp and our views are in the programme for government”.
“No document is perfect, but we believe that the document is containing an awful lot of the issues that Danny has been fighting for over many years in opposition. Now we want to be on the other side,” Deputy Michael Healy-Rae said.
Looking outside of Ireland, the deputy said that if American president Donald Trump needed an “able person” to assist him to stop the war in Ukraine, then he “couldn’t carry a better person” than his brother Danny.