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It's not natural for same-sex couples to have children, TD Danny Healy-Rae has claimed.

In an outspoken new interview, the Independent Co Kerry politician revealed he voted no in the same-sex marriage referendum because he believes in the traditional family model, with a mother and a father.

The 61-year-old told Hot Press: “What was I very worried about – and still am – is that two men, or two women, could adopt a little baby girl or a little baby boy and these babies would have no say in it.

“And that wouldn’t be a natural family for me. I felt that was wrong.

“Going back, it was always a man and a woman who produced a baby and brought them up, and that’s the way I felt it should continue.”

Despite his controversial view on same-sex couples having children, he insisted that he is not homophobic.

He stressed: “No, I’m not anti-gay. What these people do is their business and I’m fine with that.

“If they want to have that type of relationship, again, I’ll say: that’s their business.

“They do what they want to do and I wish them will with that. And let them have the friends that they have.”

The father-of-six also didn’t hold back when asked on his view about repealing the Eight Amendment.

He said: “I’m not for abortion and that’s it – full stop.”

When pressed on the issue he said that our restrictive laws on abortion shouldn’t be changed, even in circumstances such as rape and fatal foetal abnormality.

He said: “Well, certainly the life of the mother must be protected at all times and have equal rights to the life of the child.

“But, I believe the laws and the way we are in this country are supportive of that.”

(Image: Hot Press)

Deputy Healy-Rae also said he disagrees with Waterford TD John Halligan’s comments that we should legalise prostitution here.

He explained that he does not feel that there is enough of a demand for the service of sex workers for it to be a pressing issue.

Deputy Healy-Rae said: “It has never been mentioned at a doorstep and I’ve certainly gone to a lot of them.

“So, if it’s a problem John Halligan feels that needs to be addressed, I certainly don’t.

“There are a lot of other issues that need to be addressed first...

“I get a lot of requests at clinics and my phone never stops ringing – indeed, I don’t ever turn it off – but I’ve never been asked by any of those people to see if we could get a woman for them in that way!”

Danny Healy-Rae’s full, in-depth interview can be seen in the new Hot Press, in shops today.

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