He was first elected to the Dáil for Tipperary South in 2000 as an independent candidate, having served as a councillor on both Clonmel Borough Council since 1985 and South Tipperary County Council.

The 74-year-old also served as Mayor of Clonmel from 1994 to 1995.

He describes himself as “a straight-talking, hardworking community activist”.

As chair of the Save Our Acute Hospital Services Committee, he has been heavily involved in campaigns to retain hospital services in the county.

A longtime trade union and community activist, he served the Impact union at local and national level as branch Chairperson.

He was a former Hospital Administrator for South Tipperary Acute Hospital Services from 1978 to 1999, and is currently a director of The Friends of South Tipperary General Hospital.

Mr Healy is a founding member of the Right2Water campaign.

He first got elected to the Dáil in 2011, and was elected again in 2016, but lost his seat in 2020.