Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae has appealed the decision to be removed from the Oireachtas Committee of Agriculture after he voted against the Government in the motion of confidence last week.
The news comes after independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, brother of Danny, stepped down as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
This decision followed the two brothers voting against the government last week.
Michael Healy-Rae resigned due to his belief that “this Government have let the people of Ireland down.” The vote of confidence was passed after the motion in the Dáil last week by 92 votes to 78.
Danny Healy-Rae was set to be replaced by Michael Cahill, but he appealed in House to remain a member after Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins raised issue in the Dáil with the attempt to remove the Kerry TD from the committee, quoting a speech from Taoiseach Micheal Martin in 2016.
“Political parties should not think parliament is their possession and that they can control anything that happens
“Why now today are you doing a 360-degree turn and trying to seek to remove Deputy Danny Healy-Rae from the Agriculture Committee … [because] he voted against your Government. This decision has to be reversed.”
There has been great unrest throughout the country in recent weeks, which began with the blockading of major motorways in an attempt to protest the rising carbon tax on fuel prices.
The reaction from Taoiseach Micheál Martin landed him in hot water due to his attitude toward the farmers and haulier’s peaceful protest.
Following these fuel protests, and the way they were handled by Martin and his government, three of Fianna Fáil’s youngest TD’s, James O’Connor, Ryan O’Meara and Albert Dolan, expressed “real and deep concern” toward the handling of the situation.
These statements of concern were also supported by Limerick city and Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea.
This unrest throughout the country, both within the government and from the public, could signify danger for the political parties and the TD’s currently in Government.
Martin has ensured that this is not the case as he will “fulfil mandate” and lead Fianna Fail into the next election, despite admitting that these have been a trying few weeks for himself and the Government.