Danny Healy-Rae backs new Taoiseach, presses for Shannon LNG and surgery action
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil, congratulating the Taoiseach while pressing for rural concerns and urgent healthcare action. He offered conditional support to the new government, backing Shannon LNG's investment and urging the minister for health to resolve delayed operations affecting patients such as Ronan Foley.
Support for the Taoiseach
He congratulated the Taoiseach on his appointment, wished his family and his special adviser well, and stated he could support the new leader while representing his constituents.
Shannon LNG and rural Ireland
He argued Fianna Fáil has distanced itself from rural Ireland and pointed to the programme for government and the debt deal for Shannon LNG as evidence. He noted Shannon LNG had provided their own funding, had spent up to 70 million already, and said the project would create around 300 construction jobs and perhaps 100 ongoing jobs annually.
Healthcare delays and Ronan Foley
He appealed directly to the Taoiseach, the new government and the minister for health to address long surgical waits, citing Ronan Foley whose operation was promised in January to take place in March but had not happened. He highlighted delays caused by the wait for a government and by COVID-19, stressing patients remain in pain and need urgent treatment.
Representation and approach to government
He pledged to provide constructive opposition where necessary and to support measures that benefit his constituents in Kerry. He said he would criticise and support the government as required, and wished the ministers, Fine Gael and the Green Party well in office.
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Deputy Danny Healey Ray Thank you very much. It's very clear to me that Michal Martin, leader of the Fianna Fáil party, is going to be Taoiseach in a very sharp point. And I wish him very well. I wish his wife and family all the very best. And especially, I wish Deirdre Gillan, his special advisor, all the very best in our role as advisor to the Taoiseach of the country of Ireland. Even though we started out in the same party Taoiseach, our Deputy Martin, I can support you today. Because I believe that our party, the Healy Ray party, has remained close to the people that elect us and the people who voted for us. And I think that Fianna Fáil has distanced itself from the people of rural Ireland. And that was seen again in the program for government that you signed up to, Deputy Martin, when you signed the debt deal for Shannon LNG. And that is one of the reasons why I can vote for you here today. Because Shannon LNG were providing their own money, their own funding, and they have spent up to 70 million already. And they would create 300 jobs in the construction and up to maybe 100 jobs every year after that. And these people have been let down. I, too, was asked about Ronan Foley. And I'm calling on the new Taoiseach and the new government and the new Minister for Health to see after Ronan Foley, who was promised in January that his operation would take place in March. That has not happened. And we were waiting for 140 days for a government. But if we're waiting in pain and suffering agony in the garden for the last 120 days since the operation was supposed to take place, and even much longer than that, I'm appealing to you now to let that be the end of that and see after all the other people that are waiting for operations and have been held up by the COVID and the coronavirus. I'm appealing to you on that. I wish, I do wish you all the best with your new government. I wish the ministers well. I wish the Fine Gael and the Green Party well. But, and I wish you all the very best for the sake of the people of Ireland and indeed Kerry. I wish you the best. I promise to provide constructive opposition where it's needed. And I will support you where you provide things and supports for the people that I'm representing. As a member of the Torte Tordal, elected by the people of Kerry, I am proud to represent and I will represent the people of Kerry here, whether it is in this new auditorium or in Dalian or wherever it is. While I'm elected as a TD for Kerry, I promise the people of Kerry to give my level best and to do my level best and to ensure support is given to the government where it's needed and criticism as well where it is needed. Thank you very much, can I call it? Thank you very much. And thank you for the role that you have played over the last four years and again in the last few months and in an impeccable manner that they'll put your office. Thank you very much. Thank you.
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