LAST UPDATE | 14 Apr

GOING INTO TODAY, government leaders knew they were in for a battering with a motion of no confidence tabled by Sinn Féin.

But it didn’t envisage it would be ending the day one minister down. 

What is more surprising, and somewhat embarrassing, is the Taoiseach and Tánaiste got no prior warning from Michael Healy-Rae that he planned to quit his ministerial role and vote against the government today. 

The coalition has suffered a bruising week with fuel protests taking place around the country which resulted in the government having to fork out further supports to the tune of over half a billion euro. 

Both Micheál Martin and Simon Harris were blindsided when Healy-Rae got on his feet in the Dáil this afternoon announcing that he would be tendering his resignation as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture. 

After dropping that bombshell, the Kerry TD headed over the ‘bridge of spies’, the nicknamed covered walkway linking Leinster House to Government Buildings, to the  Taoiseach’s office with his letter of resignation in hand. 

Speaking to reporters at the weekly post-cabinet media briefing, a spokeswoman for the government said that when Healy-Rae went to the Taoiseach’s office to submit his letter of resignation, Micheál Martin was on the phone to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Due to the political fallout from the fuel protests, the Taoiseach was forced to cancel his planned trade mission to Canada this week.

Perhaps the Taoiseach was telling Carney about the government’s tough week or asking the prime minister for his advice, but little did Martin know, this week might just match his last one. 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin on his way into Cabinet this morning. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

“We respect the decision of Michael Healy Rae, it’s disappointing obviously that he’s tendered his resignation, he was a good minister, a good colleague, and we wish him well in the future,” a government spokesman said.

In his shock announcement in the Dáil, Healy-Rae explained why he had reached his decision to step away from government. 

‘Government has let the people of Ireland down’

“Because of the fact that I believe this government have let the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country, and I will be tendering my resignation as a Minister of State from now.”

The TD said he has always viewed himself as a “gauge of the people of rural Ireland”.

“When I see people begging on the side of the road, when I’ve seen grown men crying. Last night when I met tractor men, lorry men, farmers, and when they were telling me how unhappy they were, the leader of the country should have listened.”

“Now the people of Kerry are telling me that they are unhappy with this government, they don’t want to see me, or any Healy-Rae supporting it.”

The government and the leader have not listened. It’s a lesson for people in the future.

While all fine explanations for walking away, the perception in Leinster House is Danny Healy-Rae, a tacit supporter of this coalition, was looking to withdraw his support, and therefore his brother chose to do the same.

The whole debacle today doesn’t paint a picture of stability within this government.

When this was put to the Tánaiste’s spokesperson today, they pointed to the confidence vote in the government, which they said was won. 

They said it is never good to lose a minister, but the vote speaks for itself, adding that of course it is disappointing what has happened today, but it was a “personal decision” for Healy-Rae. 

Michael Healy-Rae outside Leinster House. Leah Farrell Leah Farrell

A short while before the Dáil’s vote was set to get underway, a missive went out to journalists from camp Healy-Rae: Michael would be speaking on the plinth immediately after the vote.

Reporters gathered outside the main door of Leinster House once the vote finished, as protesters roared ‘Get them out!’ and ‘Traitors!’ from outside the gates.

But the idea of a Healy-Rae press conference on the plinth was quickly quashed.

Leinster House ushers delivered the message that because Healy-Rae’s resignation had not officially been processed, he would not be allowed to host one as, per the rules of the parliament, ministers are supposed to speak from Government Buildings, not Leinster House.

After a quick scramble to the Merrion Square gates, a calm Healy-Rae told reporters that he would answer any questions they had.

Healy-Rae’s parting gift to the Taoiseach

Perhaps most revealing was his answer when asked if Micheál Martin is “the right man to be Taoiseach”.

“I have grave reservations, and that’s why I did what I did,” Healy-Rae responded.

He explained that he came to his decision over the last few days, and after the “people of Kerry” told him they “weren’t happy with how the government was going”.

“They really felt that leadership wasn’t listening to them. And always, I have to be true to myself, to my family, to my supporters, to my canvassers and to the people of Kerry.

I did my best for the people of Kerry.

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“They asked me to go into government, but then they were saying now that they feel that this government had lost its way,” Healy-Rae said.

He added that he felt “government leaders” were not “showing compassion and understanding of the suffering that is going on out on the ground”.

“I really believe that the people of Ireland, whether it’s farmers, whether it’s contractors, whether it’s housewives that are trying to manage they feel they’ve been left behind and left down by this government,” he said.

Asked if he had a fight with the Taoiseach over the support package that was put together, Healy-Rae said he does not “fight with anyone”.

“There’s nothing personal in this,” he said.

However, raising questions about the Martin’s leadership is a very personal parting gift from Healy-Rae. 

Questions around Martin’s leadership and judgement, in terms of whether he made the right call in going into government with independent TDs, will also be up for discussion.

Can the independents hack it in government? 

Aside from the Martin’s leadership being put under the spotlight, the role of the independents in government, and whether they can be relied upon, is also up for debate now.

When the going gets tough, will the independents have the stomach to be in government?

For example, do the events of the last week show that when the backlash against government reaches a certain level, independents could well jump ship in an attempt to retain their seat in the next election. 

Was the push back in Kerry too much for the Healy-Raes that it put the whole family dynasty at risk?

Or ultimately, was being in government, toeing the line, just tougher than Michael Healy-Rae had anticipated?

The Kerry TD was always known for doing solo runs on issues, so it should be no surprise to those in government that in the end, Healy-Rae went rogue.