Space Cadets: Michael Healy-Rae

The Healy-Raes are one of the most famous families in Ireland (after Crystal Swing), but not always for the right reasons. So we've decided to put their most outspoken member, Michael, under the spotlight for this week's Space Cadet.

Ah, Michael Healy-Rae. Now there’s a name that journalists love to hear. Why? Well, mainly because anytime Michael’s name crops up in the news you’re guaranteed a story. This time around, Michael wants guns to be available to rural people for protection purposes. Strap yourself in...

As if we haven’t heard enough about the gun debate over in the US, Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae says Ireland needs its own debate on whether people should be allowed to buy guns to protect themselves.

Speaking this morning on RTÉ Radio’s Today show with Pat Kenny, the TD said, “People who possess gun licences, they treat their licence with respect, they treat their gun with respect, they don’t want anybody who should not be holding that gun to ever get near it.

“So that wouldn’t really be a very big problem because of the regulations that are already in place.”

Michael also gave the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter a right lambasting saying Shatter ‘failed and failed in an awful way’ to protect rural dwellers. In fairness to Michael, he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want any city slickers getting their greasy paws on a gun.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner he said, “I am speaking solely in the context of rural Ireland, which is very different to urban areas,” said Mr Healy-Rae.

“I am raising the matter in the Dáil and asking that another licence category be added to allow for the protection of rural dwellers.”

Basically, Michael is looking for the government to introduce a new gun licence that will allow rural people to use their guns on other people, if they pose a threat.

“It’s no harm for these criminals to know that if they engage in this type of activity they may leave the home that they break into in a wooden box.”

Like we said, it’s not the first time awl Michael has hit the headlines. Back in 2007 he took part in RTÉ’s Celebrities Go Wild reality TV show. Michael ended up winning the show by receiving the most public votes, however, it was revealed that this included 3,636 votes from a phone in Leinster House at a cost of €2,600 to the Irish taxpayer. Nice.

We could also mention his brother Danny, who previously suggested that rural people should be allowed to ‘drink and drive’, but we don’t have the time...

If you think you're as much of a space cadet as the Healy-Raes, then prove it. Head over to lynxpollo.com, get yourself signed up and see if you've got what it takes to head into space.