Healy Rae Phone Scandal

**NeverFeltBetter** · 21/01/2013, 10:53 PM

That's been a common drum for the Healy-Rae family to bang. I vaguely recall a Matt Cooper interview with one of them, where "Ah sure, some people drive better when drunk" was trotted out as a legitimate argument over drunk-driving statistics.

**horton** · 22/01/2013, 8:08 AM

You deserve everything you get when you vote for nutters like them. Would it really be that hard for the publican(in this case him) to give his regulars a lift home if he's that desperate for custom? Although :

“The pub is invariably the only social outlet left in rural Ireland and they’re getting scarce now – just one or two in every village,” he said.

Surely villages don't have the population to justify anymore than one or two each anyway? Is it really still such a taboo to go to a pub and not drink alcohol? minerals usually have same mark up if not more so revenue wouldn't be much different.

**DannyInvincible** · 22/01/2013, 8:16 AM

No surprise that a number of the councillors who passed the council motion just so happened to be publicans...

Would some sort of shuttle bus service around these rural areas be a viable option? It would certainly be much safer, but may not be cost-effective. How will it be judged as to who constitutes an "isolated rural person" anyway?

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/01/2013, 8:22 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

No surprise that a number of the councillors who passed the council motion just so happened to be publicans...

Would some sort of shuttle bus service around these rural areas be a viable option? It would certainly be much safer, but may not be cost-effective. How will it be judged as to who constitutes an "isolated rural person" anyway?

No, a shuttle bus service would be completely unworkable. There are only two options: drink driving or staring at the same four walls.

**BonnieShels** · 22/01/2013, 9:05 AM

Just read it on RTE. There are no words.

My ex-gf's sister lives in a place in Kerry called Kilquane (near Headford). And I remember one night I drove down to a barraduff for a pint. After I was finished I was leaving to walk home and one of the local lads offered me a lift. He was scuttered drunk and saw no problem in offering the lift. Needless to say I initially refused but like an idiot I eventually said go on and he got me back to the house.

I can't fathom how that guy was going down to essentially socialise with the barman couldn't sit there with a soft drink if he was driving. I can never fathom any justification for drink driving.

**gastric** · 22/01/2013, 9:20 AM

So do you get a permit to drink 7 or 20 pints? I agree with you Bonnie, there is no justification whatsoever for any degree of drink driving over the present legal limit. It is through such ideas that other nations laugh at us!

**NeverFeltBetter** · 22/01/2013, 11:07 AM

I missed it, but apparently Ray Darcy unloaded on Healy Rae this morning, then hung up on him. I really dislike Darcy as a DJ, but I might just have to look that up.

Also, I assume this is just a PR stunt for rural votes and everyone involved knows it wont happen.

**Spudulika** · 23/01/2013, 8:27 AM

Shared the news from Ireland, the only one worth discussing, at this morning's meeting. Now, take into account everyone around the table is Russian, and being Russian would have a pleasant eye on drinking to excess. Alcohol is open here, cheap and plentiful - if toxic. So I was expecting - Jayz, we'd love that here. Instead the people were shocked. They would expect a decision like this here, or in Backwardistan, but Ireland? One girl, who had booked a language school in Tralee for 2 weeks in the Summer, is seriously reconsidering the trip.

Just how dumb and insensitive are these people? (I'll leave that open)

**dahamsta** · 23/01/2013, 10:44 AM

We should really export everyone that voted for the Healy-Raes and Michael Lowry over the years. Who'd take 'em though?

**BonnieShels** · 23/01/2013, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

We should really export everyone that voted for the Healy-Raes and Michael Lowry over the years. Who'd take 'em though?

Was that not why we demarcated Kerry and split Tipperary in the first place? They keep finding a way out; the shower!

**strangeirish** · 23/01/2013, 1:22 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

We should really export everyone that voted for the Healy-Raes and Michael Lowry over the years. Who'd take 'em though?

Cork. Sure they'd have anyone down there...

**Charlie Darwin** · 23/01/2013, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

Shared the news from Ireland, the only one worth discussing, at this morning's meeting. Now, take into account everyone around the table is Russian, and being Russian would have a pleasant eye on drinking to excess. Alcohol is open here, cheap and plentiful - if toxic. So I was expecting - Jayz, we'd love that here. Instead the people were shocked. They would expect a decision like this here, or in Backwardistan, but Ireland? One girl, who had booked a language school in Tralee for 2 weeks in the Summer, is seriously reconsidering the trip.

Just how dumb and insensitive are these people? (I'll leave that open)

On the other hand, there are plenty of countries where drinking with a couple of pints on board is already legal. Ireland's drink-driving laws are among the strictest in the world (and rightly so). Your friend probably underestimates the level of revulsion felt by Irish people at the suggestion, and the fact that it will never, ever actually come into law.

**Eminence Grise** · 23/01/2013, 7:45 PM

Made Time magazine as well (rather appropriate: Time, gentlemen, please!) http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/01/23/...ral-residents/

Danny Healy-Rae upgraded from backwoodsman to 'An Irish government official in County Kerry' no less. What jumps out at me from the story is this: 'With 12 councilors not present for the vote and another seven abstaining from taking part, the motion passed, five votes to three.' So 19 councilors were either absent or so chcknsht of offending some bunch of voters that they hadn't the courage of any conviction, except the conviction of holding onto their precious seat.

Have to appreciate the way the Americans refer to drunk driving - it sounds far more censorious than drink driving.

**BonnieShels** · 23/01/2013, 9:08 PM

Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

Have to appreciate the way the Americans refer to drunk driving - it sounds far more censorious than drink driving.

That's a very good point.

There's a petition to the RSA in the making.

**samhaydenjr** · 24/01/2013, 4:29 AM

So, we don't like negative stereotypes, but now we have legalised drunken tractor-driving! Hey Britain, if we give you Kerry, can we have, say, Tyrone and Fermanagh? No? How about just Fermanagh? OK, can we just get Sky Sports free for a month? Look, just take them off our hands...please!

**DannyInvincible** · 24/01/2013, 8:24 AM

Originally Posted by samhaydenjr

So, we don't like negative stereotypes, but now we have legalised drunken tractor-driving!

Nothing's been legalised just yet and I'd be very surprised if this was considered seriously at higher level.

**BonnieShels** · 24/01/2013, 8:38 AM

Danny I wouldn't even think about it anymore.

Do you remember the stink Daddy Healy-Rae kicked up about the smoking ban?

Cretins.

**BonnieShels** · 24/01/2013, 11:31 AM

Well... there ya go...

Originally Posted by The Irish Times

Shatter rejects drink driving proposal
TIM O'BRIEN and ANNE LUCEY

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter today rejected a call by Kerry County Council for permits to allow certain rural dwellers to drink and drive.
A motion tabled by Independent Councillor Danny Healy-Rae at Monday’s meeting of Kerry County Council called for special derogation from the alcohol limit for rural drivers, including those of small tractors.

The motion was passed by five votes to three. Seven councillors abstained and 12 were not present.
Speaking at a meeting of EU traffic police in Dublin Castle this morning, Mr Shatter said he did not believe any Government would ever accede to such a request.
Mr Shatter said those who were "privileged" to be involved in politics should be "relentlessly" supporting the road safety message.
While not referring to the council or any councillor by name, Mr Shatter was critical of what he described as self promotion by certain politicians.
"No one should be off message on this issue,” he said.
The motion called for legislation to be introduced which would allow rural gardaí to issue permits to allow rural dwellers drive from their local pub "after having two or three drinks on little used roads driving on very low speeds".

Mr Healy-Rae, a publican, was supported by a number of other publicans at the meeting. However, they insisted their support was not for “vested interests” but because of genuine concern about elderly rural dwellers and their experience of the changes which had overcome rural dwellers

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking29.html

**Mr A** · 25/04/2013, 8:55 PM

He's at it again, the muppet: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/h...ip-592540.html

"Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae says a debate is needed on whether people should be allowed to buy guns to protect themselves."

And all too familiar tactic from our political class- spread fear and then attempt to capitalise by appearing to be on the side of the people you've scared.