MICHAEL Healy-Rae found himself in the hotseat last night – but it left a Dáil rival squirming on the couch at home.
The Independent Kerry TD accepted an invitation from Virgin Media Television – formerly TV3 – to fill in for usual presenter Ivan Yates on the Tonight Show.
Never slow to shun the limelight, the Kilgarvan politician happily accepted and took his seat alongside co-host Matt Cooper to put panel guests, including Sinn Fein TD Eoin Ó Broin, Fianna Fail Senator Lorraine Clifford, lecturer Katriona O’Sullivan and financial analyst Karl Deeter, through their paces.
Topics discussed included the no confidence motion in Minister Eoghan Murphy, the President’s unvouched expenses and cancer warnings on alcohol bottles.
The social media reaction to Healy-Rae’s confident and self-assured performance was mixed but one viewer that was not impressed was Labour Party TD Alan Kelly.
The Tipperary TD said on Twitter: “MHR too busy getting the make up sorted to vote tonight in the Dail Chamber on a Government confidence motion? Priorities?”
Kelly later went on record to say he considered it “weird” that Healy-Rae was asked to host the show.
“A lot of people will be saying if you are going to do that you will probably have to give everyone else a go at it. Most people around Leinster House found it a bit of a novelty,” he said adding that that it was probably an editorial decision that will be thrown in the faces of Virgin Media Television in the future.
Deputy Healy-Rae said he had many issues with and was very critical of Deputy Alan Kelly when he was a minister and he was “trying to take a swipe” back.
He defended his decision not to attend the Dáil for the no confidence vote as the result was a foregone conclusion because of Fianna Fáil’s pre-announced decision to support the government.
On his stint filling in for Ivan Yates, the Kerry TD said: “It was strange but enjoyable to be on the other side of the table”.
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