Michael Healy-Rae has defended his decision to ask the Health Minister more than a hundred questions in the Dáil in just one day last week.

The Kerry TD says he is particularly determined to get answers for his constituents who want to know why they have been left waiting for medical treatments.

TDs often put pressure on ministers by raising issues publicly in the Oireachtas - but posing questions comes at a price, with an average fee of €200.

That means that Michael Healy-Rae's 115 inquiries could have cost around €23,000.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Deputy Healy-Rae denied that he was wasting anyone's money.

"If you think I'll come on a radio programme and make an apology for doing my job, you've got another thing coming," he explained.

"I'm trying to help people - I'm trying to highlight shortfalls in our health service [...] As long as there's air in my lungs, I'll continue to fight for people who come to me."

He said he particularly wanted to highlight the cases of some of his constituents waiting for treatment for cataracts.

Deputy Healy-Rae argued: "We're living in a modern civilised society - people should not be going blind waiting to have operations carried out. But that's exactly what happened."