INDEPENDENT TD Michael Healy-Rae was undergoing tests in a Dublin hospital last night after he was taken ill in the Dáil.
Mr Healy-Rae was brought by ambulance to St James’s Hospital after being examined by Minister for Health Dr James Reilly, when he complained of feeling unwell shortly before lunchtime. A spokeswoman for the hospital said he was being examined in the emergency department.
Shortly before falling ill, he had made an impassioned criticism of the Government’s budget cuts and then became involved in a heated row with Government TDs.
Mr Healy-Rae then went to the canteen and returned shortly after for a vote but complained of feeling unwell. Dr Reilly was summoned and examined him in the Ceann Comhairle’s office.
An ambulance was called but got delayed by a protest against the budget outside Leinster House and a second ambulance had to be sent for, which brought Mr Healy-Rae to hospital.
During the debate on the Social Welfare Bill, Mr Healy-Rae read from a letter from a father of three, one with Down syndrome, who said his family would be made homeless as a result of a cut in support from €190 a week to €50.
The Kerry South TD criticised cuts to community employment schemes and invited Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to talk to protesters outside Leinster House “before you sit down in the big restaurant”.
To the heckles of Government TDs, an increasingly impassioned Mr Healy-Rae said he was ashamed of what the Minister was doing.
The Bill passed all stages by 88 votes by 47.