Danny Healy-Rae removed from Agriculture Committee over confidence vote

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Danny Healy-Rae has been removed as a member of the Agriculture Committee after voting against the Government in a confidence motion.

He had supported the formation of a coalition with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, along with other independents, including his brother Michael Healy-Rae, who was appointed a junior minister.

Both Healy-Raes voted against the Government in the confidence motion last week, with Michael resigning as minister of state with responsibility for forestry at the Department of Agriculture.

On Tuesday, the Dáil voted to pass a Government motion to remove Danny Healy-Rae as a member of the Agriculture Committee.

He had unsuccessfully sought to amend the order of business that brought in the motion.

He told the Dail: “My amendment is that I be allowed stay in the Committee of Agriculture, because my understanding was that I was appointed an independent member, not a member of Government – or Fianna Fáil.”

Chief whip Mary Butler replied: “You do not need to be a member of a committee to attend a committee.”

His vacated seat is to be filled by Fianna Fail TD Michael Cahill, also from the Kerry constituency that elected the Healy-Raes.

After the formation of Government, there had been heated debates about how independents who supported the coalition but were not given ministerial roles should be treated for the purposes of speaking time and committee allocations.

Senior figures in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have said the arrangement of support, which resulted in Michael Healy-Rae being appointed as a junior minister, was with both brothers.