Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae has declined to rule himself out of becoming a minister for rural affairs in the next government after he revealed that both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have pledged to establish a full ministry for rural affairs.
Mr Healy Rae told RTE's Countrywide that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin had given him a commitment to create a ministry for rural affairs and he would seriously consider any offer to become minister in charge of rural affairs.
“The one thing I looked for right away after the election because I thought it was of paramount importance who ever formed the next government whether it is a Fianna Fáil led government or a Fine Gael led government is that they have a senior minister for rural affairs not rural development.”
“The caretaker Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told me yes, he will have such a position (minister for rural affairs) if he’s in power. Micheál Martin has told me yes, that it’s Fianna Fáil policy, that they will have a full minister for rural affairs.
"That's terribly important because there's a great imbalance over the last number of years because I really feel rural Ireland was left behind. I really think the ministers of the outgoing government, they thought the world stopped at the Red Cow roundabout."
Pressed by Countrywide presenter Damian O’Reilly about whether he would be willing to serve as minister for rural affairs in either a Fine Gael led or a Fianna Fail led administration, Mr Healy Rae said he would give any such offer serious consideration if it would benefit his constituents.
“If an opportunity was ever to arise to me that would make sense and that was a good thing, it would be a good thing for the people I represent, it would be a very foolish politician who would ever rule themselves out of something,” he said.
Mr Healy Rae said that he and his brother, Danny, who was also elected for Kerry, had already met Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael negotiators and they were due to meet with the Fine Gael team again on Tuesday where they would discuss that affect rural constituencies such as Kerry.
“Farming and rural issues are up on the agenda next Tuesday, issues such as farming, fishing, the Leader programmes, the funding of post-offices, broadband - all of these issues are going to be discussed next week,” he said.
