Barry Heneghan moves Dáil seat away from Michael Lowry citing 'toxic behaviour'
Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Barry Heneghan in the Dáil chamber ahead of the vote on the nomination of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach. Picture: Fergal Phillips/Maxwells/PA Wire
Independent TD Barry Heneghan is to move seats in the Dáil away from Michael Lowry, citing “toxic and undermining behaviour” of other politicians.
In a letter to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Mr Heneghan said that he would continue to support the Government and remain part of the Regional Independent group.
“I remain a member of the Technical Group, and I continue to support the Programme for Government so long as the priorities I was elected on are being progressed. But I also want to restate clearly: I am an Independent TD, and I intend to act accordingly,” Mr Heneghan wrote.
“If I wanted to align myself with a political party or the behaviour of other politicians, I would have joined one. I didn’t.
“What I didn’t anticipate, perhaps due to youth or inexperience, is the level of toxic and undermining behaviour I would face, both within and outside the chamber. I will not continue to tolerate it.”
Mr Heneghan’s move in the Dáil comes a week on from significant attention he received, after he was pictured alongside Mr Lowry while the Tipperary TD made a two-fingered gesture to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy.
Despite his move in the Dáil chamber, the Dublin Bay North TD said that he has not “moved an inch” from the mandate he was elected on last December.
He added that he would engage “constructively” with Government ministers to deliver on his priorities.
“Let me be clear: I will not be bullied or intimidated out of that position,” Mr Heneghan added.
Mr Heneghan added that he was not elected to Leinster House to “sit on the fence” and that it would have been “far easier” to do that.
“I chose to take a position, to support the formation of a government, and to try to deliver real results for my constituents in Dublin Bay North. That hasn’t changed.”
In his letter, Mr Heneghan highlights that he wants to see a new A&E for Beaumont Hospital, as well as a new school building for Gaelcholáiste Reachrann.
