Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have no confidence in this Government. It has made a mess of the hospital service. University Hospital Kerry may as well close its doors tonight because of mismanagement at government level. Poor decision after poor decision has been made by a Government completely out of touch. Katherine Zappone was not going to represent me or the people of Kerry whom I represent. That is why what the Government did was so wrong. She was on a solo run to promote her agenda, which was not mine. She would not have much support in County Kerry anyway.

Having said that, do I agree with the motion before us? Would I vote against the Minister personally? I would not. He is a good, solid political worker. Saying different is not factual. I have known him a long time, going back to our time on the Southern Health Board. I saw a worker then, I see one now and I cannot go against that. I have nothing to gain by voting in the Minister's favour, other than that my political judgment says it is the right thing to do.

See this speech in context