Watch: Michael Healy-Rae resigns as junior minister over fuel crisis
Michael Healy-Rae has resigned as minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The independent Kerry TD confirmed his decision as the Dáil debates a motion of confidence in the government today (Tuesday, April 14).
The government tabled the motion in response to Sinn Féin's motion of no confidence over the government's handling of the ongoing fuel crisis.
In his speech, Minister Healy-Rae said "the people of Kerry are telling me that they are unhappy with this government".
He said he asked his late father and former TD Jackie Healy-Rae what he should do before he went to bed last night.
"I've always looked at myself as a gauge of the people of rural Ireland, and I really believe that I am," he said.
"The leader of the country should have listened. Because of the fact that I believe this government have left the people of Ireland down, I will be voting no confidence in the leader of the country, and I will be tendering my resignation as a minister of state from now.
"I would ask that future governments and this government that they would listen, that they would be kind, that they would be understanding.
"There are farmers that are really suffering so much at present, there are agricultural contractors that are really suffering.
"There were people that cried at the protests, and these were workers. These were respectable people.
"They're the people that I represented since the first day I started," he said.
"The feeling that I have is the government and the leader in particular has not listened.
"It's a lesson for people in the future. I adored being a minister in the department for agriculture, because I felt I was able to do good and I was passionate about my job," Michael Healy-Rae added.
Michael Healy-Rae
Michael Healy-Rae and his brother Danny reached an agreement to support the government following the last general election.
In recognition of that support, Michael Healy-Rae was appointed as Minister of State at DAFM with special responsibility for forestry, horticulture and farm safety.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Michael Healy-Rae said he told the people he would go into government "if the opportunity was right and if it was good for the people of Kerry".
"The people of Kerry are telling me, they are unhappy with this government. They don't want to see me or any Healy-Rae supporting it," he said.
