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Government under pressure after two Kerry members of the coalition leave over fuel protests

Apr 15, 2026 08:13
By radiokerrynews
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Government under pressure after two Kerry members of the coalition leave over fuel protests
Danny Healy-Rae celebrates after being elected in Kerry. Photo: David Corkey/Radio Kerry

The Government is under pressure after two members of the coalition left over fuel protests.

Brothers and Independent TDs for Kerry, Michael and Danny Healy-Rae dramatically pulled their support for the coalition yesterday.

It means the coalition's majority has dropped to five.

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The Government has been left to pick up the pieces after Michael Healy-Rae dropped a bombshell in the Dáil chamber, saying he has serious reservations about Micheál Martin's leadership.

He denied being bounced into the decision to resign by his brother - after Danny Healy-Rae signalled he wouldn't be voting confidence in the Government.

That said Michael Healy-Rae was visibly emotional after leaving the Taoiseach's office - when he went to hand in his resignation Micheál Martin was on a call to the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

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It's a bad look for Micheál Martin's Government but a number of Fianna Fáil Ministers said the Taoiseach isn't fatally wounded by the defection, saying they always felt the Healy-Raes were flaky.

Micheál Martin now has a vacancy to fill as Junior Minister for Forestry - a portfolio suited to quite a limited number of TDs.

The opposition might not have succeeded in voting the Government out of office yesterday, but it chipped away at its majority which now stands at just five votes.

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