Leo Varadkar Michael Healy-Rae

The argument erupted during Leaders' Questions after Michael Healy-Rae raised the issue of a proposed liquified natural gas facility in North Kerry.

You think that because I'm from Dublin, because I'm middle-class, because I have the accent that I have that, somehow, I don't understand real people. He said the programme for government had been agreed by his party and the other Government parties, and that a planning application was with An Bord Pleanála for the LNG facility. We don't believe that importing natural gas or fracked gas, or importing any fuel, in fact, is what is going to provide us with energy security and price stability.

"Like I say, off with you with the airy fairies and see how far it will get you"

Think about what you said. But you can be sure of one thing, it is not a nice thing to look down your nose at me and say what you said to me a while ago. Mr Healy-Rae said: "When I hear some of the nonsense the Tánaiste comes out with, my goodness, he is no man to look down his nose at me as if I am something he stood up on top of.

Brash Kerry TD Healy Rae slams Leo as a 'big shot' and the Tánaiste from Dublin hits back.

“It is not nice for the Tanaiste to look down his nose at me and say what he said to me a while ago. It got testy when Mr Healy Rae said: “The funny part of it is I would not dare to look down my nose at the Tanaiste or anyone else because I do not do that, but maybe the Tanaiste does because he is a bit of a big shot.” Mr Healy Rae accused Leo Varadkar of being “a big shot” and “airy fairy” after the Tanaiste claimed the Kerry TD didn’t understand his answers.

Independent Michael Healy Rae has angrily accused Leo Varadkar of “looking down on him” – but the Fine Gael leader has counter-charged that it is the Kerry ...

“You look down on me. I’m elected here every bit as good as you are,” Mr Healy Rae said. “You’re no man to look down on me.

'I would never set out to offend or upset anyone and the Tánaiste knows that' - Kerry TD.

He said of their Dáil interaction: “He said what he said. He “absolutely 100 percent supported gay rights” and dealt with issues facing gay constituents on a regular basis. The whole argument was “lopsided”. If it had been the first time he had used the expression, that would be a different story, he said. Why would I be against anyone for being gay? He should apologise.”

Tánaiste's outrage is far from manufactured as he asks Michael Healy-Rae to reflect on comment.

“You think that because I’m from Dublin, because I’m middle class, because I don’t talk the way you talk and I have the accent that I have that somehow I don’t understand real people. “Deputy, the truth is you look down on me.” “Because when I hear some of the nonsense that you come out with, my goodness, you’re no man to look down your nose at me as if I was doing something that you stood up on top of. “Reflect on it and think about it.” “No. No. No. Reflect on it. MHR came to the end of his massive whinge. This markedly sharp reaction did not prompt Mattie McGrath or Danny Healy-Rae, seated on either side of the picture of pained innocence that was Michael, to perhaps whisper a quick word to their colleague while he luxuriated in his perceived victimhood. For a TD who knows how to dish it out in the chamber – and frequently does, he has a remarkably thin-skin when the tables are turned. “I’m not going to be lectured on understanding workers, I don’t have to put on a political costume and a caricature to pretend I’m working class like they do.” On this occasion, it was millionaire class versus middle class after Michael Healy-Rae embarked on a rant which went beyond the usual histrionics, crossing from the robustly political to the personal and offensive. The Tánaiste’s anger was instant. The Tánaiste’s anger was instant.