Heather Humphreys in pole position to be Fine Gael nominee for presidency
Ms Humphreys has a total of 38 backers, almost double the required nominations as set out by the Fine Gael executive council on Monday evening.
Mr Kelly, meanwhile, has eight confirmed backers, 12 shy of the required 20 to get on the party's ballot.
In total, there are 58 members of Fine Gael's parliamentary party, which includes TDs, Senators and MEPs.
Sources in Fine Gael have questioned where Mr Kelly can get the remaining votes, with previous precedents meaning that the party leader, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and director of elections, agriculture minister Martin Heydon, unlikely to vote.
One TD said they 'can't see where the 20 [nominations] come from' for Mr Kelly.
Another TD said Mr Kelly could opt to withdraw from the race, if he did not have a path to the nomination.
Backers of Ms Humphreys include Cabinet ministers Peter Burke, Patrick O'Donovan, and Hildegarde Naughton, junior ministers Emer Higgins, Neale Richmond, Alan Dillon, Jerry Buttimer, John Cummins, and Colm Brophy.
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Other backers include Cork North West TD John Paul O'Shea and Cork North Central TD Colm Burke.
Mr Kelly's backers include Cork East TD Noel McCarthy, Tipperary South TD Michael Murphy, Cork senator Garret Kelleher, and Tipperary senator Garret Ahearn.
Several TDs are yet to make a formal decision, including Wicklow TD Edward Timmins and Laois TD Willie Aird.
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Heather Humphreys v Sean Kelly: Strengths and weaknesses of rival Fine Gael candidates
Heather Humphreys Who is she? She retired in November 2024 after 13 years in the Dáil, 10 of which she spent as a senior minister. Born in 1963, she lives in Newbliss, Co Cavan, and was a bank official and credit union manager before becoming a TD. She is a Presbyterian. Humphreys had an unsteady start as the new minister for arts in 2014 after being catapulted into the role from the backbenches by then-taoiseach Enda Kenny. Her political naivety showed in her poor handling of a controversy over the party's backing of a Donegal businessman and Fine Gael activist in a byelection to fill a vacancy in Seanad Éireann. Despite having no experience in the area, John McNulty was appointed to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art so he could show he was a qualified person for the Seanad's cultural panel. It was a ready-up, and Humphreys, as arts minister, had to deal with the flak. She floundered in the early interviews. READ MORE She learned a lesson from that and never repeated the mistake, being careful and prepared in all subsequent public interviews. Over time, Humphreys became an indispensable ally to three taoisigh: Kenny, Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris. Her ministries were in areas where she had a strong suit. She was minister for enterprise during Brexit and had to work to ensure the North-South hard border did not re-emerge. She was minister for social protection during Covid. Her other brief in rural and community affairs saw her visit virtually every community in the country. Strengths Humphreys is one of the few Fine Gael politicians who is popular across party lines. Her time in the rural affairs brief has made her a familiar figure in virtually every hamlet in the State. That popularity is reflected in the fact that three Independent Ministers – all from the Fianna Fáil gene pool – have backed her. They are Michael Healy-Rae, Seán Canney and Noel Grealish. Fine Gael candidates have not traditionally had a broad appeal, but there is hope that Humphreys, like Mairéad McGuinness, can change that. That she is a border politician and member of a minority religion would be a boon for North-South relations. From a republican perspective, she was the minister who oversaw the successful Decade of Centenaries, including the commemoration of the 1916 Rising. Potential weaknesses Opposition parties have zeroed in on her role in Enda Kenny's 'austerity' government and her policies when minister for social welfare that affected people with disabilities. She told two reporters from the Ditch to f*** off outside her constituency office. That is similar to Michael D Higgins using an expletive during a radio row with a right-wing American commentator, when he was still a TD. It's not something that will affect her chances. She would be seen by others as an old-school, establishment and veteran Fine Gael grandee even though she is 10 years younger than Seán Kelly, and six years younger than Catherine Connolly. Having had an antagonistic political relationship with Sinn Féin during her Dáil career, Humphreys would need to convince its supporters she would represent them while not sharing their views. She is associated with rural Ireland and may struggle to attract non-Fine Gael votes in Dublin. Her Irish language skills are poor. Possible political banana skin? No particular skeletons in the cupboard. She is seen as a 'safe pair of hands' and is unlikely to take risks or push boundaries in the same way Higgins has done. Some voters may look for more 'vision' for the presidency and find her to be too conventional a candidate. Seán Kelly Who is he? Seán Kelly is now 73 but the Kerryman is still an energetic presence in Irish politics. A former schoolteacher in St Brendan's Killarney, he came to national prominence as a GAA administrator, first in Kerry and then nationally before making the transition into politics. He has been involved in GAA administration since his 20s, first in Kerry, then in Munster. He was elected president of the GAA in 2003, the first person from Kerry to hold the office. His greatest achievement during his term was overseeing the change to Rule 42, which prohibited the playing of non-Gaelic games in GAA stadiums. It paved the way for rugby internationals and soccer internationals to be played in Croke Park from 2007. [ The presidency is not a Rose of Tralee contest for over-35s Opens in new window ] Fine Gael made a number of approaches to him before he accepted an invitation to stand for the party in the European elections in 2009. It followed a trend of parties, particularly Fine Gael, seeking high-profile candidates outside conventional politics to become candidates. His Fine Gael EU parliamentary colleagues Mairéad McGuinness and Maria Walsh came into politics in the same way. Kelly's candidacy put some noses out of joint internally in Fine Gael. Simon Coveney had been elected to the parliament in 2004 but stood down in 2007, being replaced by Colm Burke. Supporters of Burke were resistant to a two-candidate strategy. In the event, Kelly finished second to Brian Crowley, winning almost 20 per cent of the vote. He has performed strongly in the three subsequent elections. Strengths? Kelly's great strengths are as an organiser, networker and communicator, as well as his willingness to travel far and wide. He is a very active politician in Brussels and the constituency. His extensive GAA experience, especially in Munster, has given him a strong base and network of support, outside of Fine Gael. He is a fluent Irish speaker and often speaks as Gaeilge in parliament. He has had a special interest in energy policy. Weaknesses? He could be considered too Munster. While amassing an impressive 123,000 votes in last year's European election, his appeal outside his southwest base is limited. Having spent his entire career as an MEP, it has put him at a disadvantage with parliamentary colleagues based in Leinster House, who would have closer connections to Heather Humphreys. Both of those factors are reflected in his struggle to reach the threshold of 20 parliamentary nominations, where most of his backers are Munster-based. Having demonstrated in his GAA career that he is a moderniser, he is nevertheless seen as a traditional Fine Gael politician in terms of outlook. Possible political banana skin? Some controversies from his time in the EU parliament. He was one of four Fine Gael MEPs, including Mairéad McGuinness, who voted against a non-binding motion in parliament that proposed increasing, improving and better organising search-and-rescue missions for migrants and refugees setting out in boats from North Africa to cross the Mediterranean. He defended the stance saying that, under the proposal, people traffickers could have gained access to information being shared by rescuers. 'It would lead to more lives being lost and more money for people smugglers who would now have carte blanche to do what they like,' he said at the time.
The Journal
6 hours ago
- The Journal
Kelly says he's not out of the running yet as Humphreys clocks up supporters
MEP SEÁN KELLY has said not to rule him out as a contender to be the Fine Gael candidate in the presidential election even as opponent Heather Humphreys amasses what looks like sufficient support to clinch the nomination. Both Kelly and Humphreys, a former Fine Gael minister, confirmed yesterday morning that they would campaign to win support in the party to become its nominee in the Áras race after first choice Mairéad McGuiness had to withdraw for health reasons after spending time in hospital. Declarations of support came quickly for both contenders but especially for Humphreys, who appears to have enough backing at this point to seal the deal. However, in comments to The Echo yesterday evening, Kelly said he will 'keep working' on it. Fine Gael reopened nominations this week for its candidate for the presidency after McGuinness' withdrawal last Thursday. Advertisement A potential candidate will need to be nominated by 20 members of Fine Gael's parliamentary party. Humphrey's has at least 38 members in her corner as of right now, appearing to leave little path for Kelly to reach the threshold. Speaking to The Echo yesterday evening, Kelly said: 'Do you know, I'd take that with a grain of salt at this stage,' 'People can be quoted for saying things but you never know. We only started today, so we'll keep working on it.' Contest Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland yesterday morning, Kelly said that Fine Gael members 'would like to have a contest'. 'We haven't had a contest for a long time now – we didn't have a contest for the last presidential election seven years ago, and we didn't have a contest of the leadership. We also did not have a contest when Mairéad got the nomination,' he said. Related Reads Heather Humphreys leading Seán Kelly in bid for Fine Gael nomination for presidency 'So I think people would like to have a contest. A contest is good for parties, it's good for democracies,' Kelly said. Separately, during her campaign announcement on Cavan-Monaghan radio station Northern Sound, Humphreys also welcomed Kelly's bid yesterday, saying she had 'no issue with a contest'. 'I know Sean to be a gentleman. I really want to wish him the best of luck,' she said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
11 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Humphreys opens up strong lead over Kelly
Heather Humphreys' sprint towards the Fine Gael nomination continues this morning with an apparently unassailable lead over fellow hopeful, Seán Kelly. Ms Humphreys is understood to have the support of 42 members of the Parliamentary party - she needs 20 - and is continuing to seek backers. Under Fine Gael's rules, a candidate also needs the support of 25 councillors and five members of the Executive Council. There are 59 members of the Parliamentary Party, so if Ms Humphreys does retain the support of 42 TDs, Senators and MEPs, that would not leave Mr Kelly with enough support to make it through the nomination process. Fine Gael is giving candidates two weeks to secure the support needed to see whether the matter progresses to a vote within the party. Should Ms Humphreys secure the party nomination, she will face serious questions over her record in government. Last night, Sinn Féin's Mark Ward said she would have to "account for 14 years of Fine Gael failure." The Dublin Mid-West TD said Ms Humphreys' U-turn on whether to run "reeks of desperation". Sinn Féin still has to consider whether it will run its own candidate, with a decision expected next month. The party is still mulling the option of supporting Catherine Connolly who has the support of the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit and some Independent TDs, meaning her name will be on the ballot paper. Yesterday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin poured cold water on MEP Billy Kelleher's call for an urgent meeting to decide the party's strategy. The Taoiseach said: "I've made it very, very clear, at the end of this month, I will be making it clear and engaging with the Parliamentary Party and outlining the Fianna Fáil position then." Businessman Gareth Sheridan's team say he is still in with a shout of making it onto the ballot paper. A spokesman for the 35-year-old entrepreneur said: "He has personally engaged with the significant independent councillor groupings in no fewer than ten local authorities; secured commitments from as many as eight of them that they are willing to propose and second his candidacy when the time arises, and this is what gives him the confidence to assert that he is assured of being nominated in at least four local authorities." This is another route to being officially nominated, one Mr Sheridan's team is confident of, but a lot will depend on Fianna Fáil's decision. If the party does not run its own candidate, will FF councillors be free to support Independents, or could they row in behind their coalition partner, Fine Gael's? Much will be decided in the next fortnight. The election is expected to take place around the end of October. The Electoral Commission notes that in 2018 and 2011, Presidential Election Orders were signed by the Minister in late August and Iris Oifigiúl notices published that month or early September. Nominations opened two days after the Order was signed and published. In the last Presidential election, nominations were open between 10am Thursday 30 August to 12pm Wednesday 26 September for 28 days or four weeks.
