Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae has said that he expects to be a junior minister in the next government.
Asked about a potential position in a new coalition, Mr Healy-Rae said: “It’s fair to say that role will be going in my direction, but as for what that is going to be, that is obviously at the direction of the incoming taoiseach.
“It’s fair to say that there is an arrangement in place where there will be a role at a department at a minister of state level for the Healy-Raes.
“At the end of the day, the giving out of any positions is obviously a matter for the incoming taoiseach, we’ll respect that role.”
The role is most likely to be at the Department of Agriculture.
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Michael Healy-Rae also said that he and his brother, Danny Healy-Rae, have agreed to support a Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government “over the next five budgets”.
Asked if there are specific measures in the arrangement that apply to the Kerry constituency, Michael Healy-Rae said: “We are ensuring that government are taking on board the issues and the concerns that are in Co Kerry.
“Of course, remember, if they’re in Co Kerry they’re reflected throughout the rest of the country. Those issues are taken on board at the heart of government”.
Danny Healy-Rae said he wants to see a “return of common sense” in government.
“What we would like most of all is that this government gets back to basics and gets back to the basic things that the people need, what the farmers need, what the tourism sector needs and all the different things that we’ve been highlighting.
“Whatever the issue is, we’re not slow to come out, and we’ll be still doing that.
“We will try and make sure that common sense prevails, that’s the thing that is needed more so than anything else.”
