[6][7] In autumn 2007, Michael Healy-Rae took part in a reality television show on RTÉ called Celebrities Go Wild, set in the "unforgiving landscapes" of Connemara, County Galway.

[8][9] It was revealed that Healy-Rae had received 3,636 votes from a phone in Leinster House, at a cost of €2,600 to the Irish taxpayer, the premium-rate calls being charged a tariff designed to raise money for charity.

[11] The Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, described it as "an outrageous abuse of facilities", while the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the money spent on the calls should be paid back.

[15][16] On 9 December 2011, having earlier participated in a debate on social welfare, he took ill at Leinster House and was advised to leave the Dáil chamber.

[20] A short while later, on the evening of 20 March 2016, Michael Healy-Rae experienced being unintentionally "tossed around by a cow" who was after calving in a shed at his farm near Kilgarvan.

[24] On 9 April 2024, following the resignation of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, Michael was nominated for the position by his brother, Danny Healy-Rae.

[29][30] On social issues, Healy-Rae was opposed to the smoking ban, arguing that elderly smokers were forced outside in harsh conditions.

He stated that his decision was based on personal conviction rather than animosity towards the LGBT community, emphasising that he had never intended to impose his views on others.

He was also opposed to same-sex couples adopting children, reflecting his belief in the importance of having both a mother and father in a child’s upbringing.

[28] In February 2018, Healy-Rae listed 11 properties for letting or rental and two either being renovated or awaiting planning permission in the register of TDs' interests.

[32] In May 2020, he was refused planning permission to convert the ground floor of Nancy Myles Pub in the Ballymullen area of Tralee.

[33] In February 2021 the Register of Members Interests was published, covering 2020, revealing that he remained the largest landlord in the Dáil, with 5 plots of land, 16 properties.

[34] He has also listed in the register of TDs interests that he is a postmaster, farmer, plant hire business operator and shop owner.

[31] His plant-hire business has worked for the Health Service Executive and he has a contract for providing fuel to Kerry County Council.