Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly to seek Fine Gael nomination to run in presidential election
Heather Humphreys
and Ireland South MEP
Seán Kelly
are to seek the party's nomination to run in the upcoming
presidential election
.
Ms Humphreys said she had been 'genuinely humbled' by the support for her candidacy in recent days.
'I have decided to go for it,' Ms Humphreys told The Joe Finnegan show on local Cavan-Monaghan radio Northern Sound.
The former minister said that it was 'fair' to ask why she had changed her mind, having ruled herself out of the contest in May and saying she would be supporting her 'friend' Mairead McGuinness instead.
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'But as we know, everything has changed with Mairead's news last week and I would just like to wish her well in her recovery.'
Ms Humphreys said she was a 'bit burned out' and was probably 'running on empty' when she decided to step down from politics at the end of last year having been a cabinet minister for ten years.
'I've said to myself more than once: 'you could do a bit more Heather,' she said.
'Really, I've had a good rest, the tank is full again. And you know timing is a funny thing because I have never felt as good about taking on the challenge.'
Her announcement came a little over an hour after Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly said that he also intends to seek the party's nomination to run in the presidential election.
Mr Kelly said he believes that there should be a contest between him and Ms Humphreys for the party's nomination.
Both candidates will now have two weeks to lobby their party for support. In order to be nominated as Fine Gael's candidate, both would need the support of at least 20 members of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, 25 councillors and five members of the party's executive council.
It is understood that Ms Humphreys is ahead with her parliamentary party despite having not yet formally started canvassing for support, though Mr Kelly said on Tuesday that he will now be seeking the support of TDs and Senators.
Ms Humphreys is also understood to be the favoured candidate of party leader
Simon Harris
.
Both Ms Humphreys and Mr Kelly had previously ruled themselves out of the contest, when it was believed that Ms McGuinness would be Fine Gael's candidate. Ms McGuinness made the shock announcement last week that she was leaving the campaign on health grounds.
Ms Humphreys stood down from politics ahead of last year's general election.
In May, Ms Humphreys ruled herself out of running for the presidency, referring to her decision to leave politics altogether at the end of last year. 'I said at that time that I wanted to spend more time with the family and that my time in public life was over,' she said in May. 'I made that decision then and it is the same.'
In July, Mr Kelly also ruled himself out of the contest. He said that the presidency was largely a ceremonial role. 'You don't have that much power or influence even though you can dress it up whatever way you like and I like to be involved politically,' Mr Kelly said then.
The MEP appeared to walk these comments back on Tuesday, saying that his comment 'was in comparison to presidents around the world who have executive powers'.
'But I think actually there's a huge potential in the job, it is the highest honour in Ireland. And if you look at what the last number of presidents have done, they've done tremendous work. There's huge flexibility there,' Mr Kelly said.
The former president of the GAA said that having spent time in Ireland over the last few weeks, he understood that he had grassroots support and momentum as many people had told him they were disappointed that he was not running for the Áras.
After deliberating for little over an hour on Monday evening, Fine Gael's executive council decided it would reopen nominations on Tuesday until September 2nd.
Ms Humphreys's candidacy has been strongly backed by Tánaiste and party leader Mr Harris.
He said that a remark he made in ruling himself out that 'a day out of Kerry was a day wasted' was a 'a tongue-in-cheek' comment.
'I'd be bringing the Áras to the people as much as the people to the Áras, so that's not a problem at all.'
Mr Kelly said that he believes Fine Gael's base would like to see a contest for its presidential candidates.
'I think the people, particularly members of the party, would like to have a contest. We didn't have a contest for a long time now, because we didn't have a contest at the last presidential election seven years ago, we didn't have a contest for the leadership.
'We weren't going to have a contest when Mairead got the nomination, so I think people would like to have a contest. Contests are good for parties, are good for democracies, and I think that I would welcome a contest, and hope I'd be part of it.'
In the days following Mairead McGuinness' unfortunate withdrawal as Fine Gael's candidate for President of Ireland on health grounds, I have reflected and given serious consideration to the possibility of seeking the
After discussing it with my family and…
— Seán Kelly MEP (@SeanKellyMEP)
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Irish Examiner
a few seconds ago
- Irish Examiner
Heather Humphreys: The former TD ready to re-enter politics and run for presidency
Formidable, amiable, capable. Ask those who have dealt with Heather Humphreys closely and you will get some combination of those phrases or their synonyms. Ms Humphreys is warmly regarded across the political spectrum and hugely respected within her Fine Gael party, where she was seen as a vital figure over the last 14 years. Born Heather Stewart in the village of Drum, County Monaghan, Ms Humphreys is a Presbyterian whose father was a member of the Orange Order and whose grandfather signed the Ulster Covenant rejecting Home Rule. In 2016, Ms Humphreys wrote that "given my background as a Protestant and an Ulsterwoman who is a proud Irish republican, I appreciate the need to respect the differing traditions on this island". She worked with Ulster Bank before joining Cootehill Credit Union, where she worked from 1999 to 2011. She was popular within the movement and has frequently referenced her time as a credit union manager as being formative to her political beliefs. Political start She was co-opted onto Monaghan County Council in 2003 when the dual mandate was abolished and Seymour Crawford kept his Dáil seat. Ms Humphreys would be elected in her own right in 2004 and 2009, becoming mayor of the county that year. In 2011, Mr Crawford opted to retire from politics ahead of the 2011 election, leaving Ms Humphreys as the party's candidate. Becoming one of three Fine Gael TDs to take a seat in the five-seat Cavan-Monaghan constituency, Ms Humphreys was one of a massive cohort of new TDs in the Fine Gael-Labour government of that time. In 2014, however, she would receive a promotion. She has spoken about how in 2014 during Enda Kenny's reshuffle, she was drinking tea with colleagues in the Leinster House canteen when Mr Kenny called for her. Appointed Arts Minister she undoubtedly leap-fogged colleagues to carve out a place in Cabinet, but the move generated goodwill for the popular deputy from her colleagues, rather than jealousy. Unable to hide her surprise at the elevation, Ms Humphreys received the biggest round of applause for any minister when she walked into the Dáil chamber. Controversy However, her tenure would get off to a rocky start as she became embroiled in a controversy over, of all things, a Seanad by-election. Ms Humphreys had appointed John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art six days before he launched his bid for the Seanad on the Cultural and Educational Panel. The move was widely criticised by political opponents as an attempt to 'qualify' him for the Seanad role, though she had denied any hand in his Seanad bid. The incident caused tensions with Labour and ended with the Government losing a Seanad by-election. Recovery But Ms Humphreys would recover from that rocky start and was praised for her handling of the 1916 centenary commemoration before being made Minister for Enterprise in 2017 under Leo Varadkar amidst turbulent Brexit talks. She would be appointed Social Protection Minister when the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition came to power and took on the justice portfolio during Helen McEntee's maternity leave. She announced her retirement from politics before last year's general election, but said on Tuesday "the tank is full" and she is ready to run again.
Irish Independent
4 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Heather Humphreys builds major lead over Seán Kelly for Áras run as Fine Gael chair and Enterprise Minister lend support
The latest senior figures to come out in favour of Humphreys are Fine Gael party chairman Micheál Carrigy and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke, in a major boost to Ms Humphreys' hopes. Both of the hopefuls had previously ruled themselves out of the running, but Fine Gael's plans for the presidency were thrown into chaos last week when former EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness ruled herself out for health reasons. The party's national executive last night decided to reopen nominations, with a deadline of September 2. To secure the party's nomination a candidate will need 20 votes from councillors, 25 members of the Oireachtas and five members of the Executive Council. Those who have publicly backed Ms Humphreys, a former cabinet minister and TD for Cavan-Monaghan, so far include: Peter Burke, Longford – Westmeath TD and Minister for Enterprise Patrick O'Donovan – Limerick TD and Minister for Arts Neale Richmond – TD for Dublin Rathdown and Minister of State for International Development Emer Higgins – Dublin Mid-West TD and junior minister at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform John Clendennen – Offaly TD Catherine Callaghan – Carlow-Kilkenny TD Micheál Carrigy – TD for Longford-Westmeath Grace Boland – TD for Dublin Fingal West James Geoghegan – TD for Dublin Bay South In addition, around 20 more party TDs and senators have either come out publicly for Ms Humphreys or are understood to be supporting her bid. They include: TDs Hildegarde Naughton, Alan Dillon, Jerry Buttimer, John Paul O'Shea, David Maxwell, Frankie Feighan and Paula Butterly. Senators Mark Duffy, Manus Boyle, Maria Byrne, Sean Kyne, Sen Joe O'Reilly, Cathal Byrne, PJ Murphy and Nikki Bradley are also understood to be backing Ms Humphreys. So far Senators Noel O'Donovan, Michael Kenneally, Garrett Ahearn and TDs Joe Cooney, Noel McCarthy, Michael Kenneally and Brian Brennan are supporting Mr Kelly, the MEP from Kerry. Micheál Carrigy TD, the chairman of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, came out in favour of Ms Humphreys in what is likely to be a hugely significant move. The parliamentary party carries 55pc of the electorate college weighting — so chairman Ms Carrigy's unalloyed support for Ms Humphreys will likely be highly influential on his colleagues. Mr Carrigy told the Irish Independent: 'I have already signed papers and will be nominating Heather. I have done it already. 'For me, she is the best candidate. No election is easy, and we have to work to achieve results, but I believe she is the best candidate for Fine Gael to put forward.' Mr Carrigy, newly elected as a TD for Longford-Westmeath after a long spell in the Seanad, added: 'I believe she will be an ideal candidate for the Presidency of Ireland.' He said he was not counting chickens, but believed Ms Humphreys had the intellect, experience and empathy to represent all of the Irish people. 'Whoever is the candidate selected by the Fine Gael party, we will all have to put our shoulders to the wheel in supporting them,' he said. 'But I am backing Heather Humphreys.' Peter Burke said: 'It is an honour to nominate Heather Humphreys to be Fine Gael's Presidential candidate. 'Heather brings over a decade of Cabinet experience and has consistently demonstrated her ability to unite people, extend the hand of friendship, and strengthen communities across this island.' He added: 'Her contribution to public life has been immense, serving with distinction in a wide range of Cabinet roles, and her work continues to leave a lasting impact in towns and communities right across Ireland. 'I look forward to supporting her campaign.' Announcement Ms Humphreys declared her intention to run for the presidency this morning on Northern Sound FM. She appeared on the Joe Finnegan Show on Northern Sound, less than an hour after her party colleague Seán Kelly confirmed his bid for the Áras. "I have decided to go for it and I will be seeking the Fine Gael nomination to be a candidate for the president of Ireland," she said. She added: "I've had a good rest. The tank is full again. Timing is a funny thing, because I have never felt as good about taking on a challenge." Fine Gael is now on course for an internal leadership battle over who should be their candidacy for the presidential election. Speaking this morning Ms Humphreys said: "I'm very conscious that when I was on your program in May, and I told you I wasn't running and that I will be supporting Mairead McGuinness, and that was the truth," she said, in relation to Ms McGuinness who last week announced her withdrawal from the race. "I wasn't going to stand against her, and that's being straight about it. But as we know, everything has changed with Mairead's news last week, and I would just like to wish her well in her recovery. Ms Humphreys attributed her decision not to seek Dáil re-election last November to being "burnt out". "I'd managed both Department of Social protection, the Department of Rural and Community Development - two standard-owned, separate departments - I've managed them for five years. At one point I had the Department of Justice as well, so a lot on." She said that having the backing of her family is "the most important thing from my perspective", though she acknowledges that presidential campaigns are not easy on the families of candidates. "If past presidential campaigns are anything to go by, it's not pleasant for the family, but they are behind me, and they do know the importance of public service," Ms Humphreys said. Acknowledging the announcement by Fine Gael colleague and former GAA President Seán Kelly that he too intends to seek the party nomination, Ms Humphreys said: "Seán has put his name forward, and I know Seán to be a gentleman." In a statement this morning Mr Kelly said: "The time is right to put my name forward for this enormously important role." He said: "As someone who has devoted my life to serving communities across Ireland, as a teacher, as President of the GAA, and for the past sixteen years as MEP for Ireland South, I am confident that I can represent the country with integrity, inclusiveness, and a commitment to our communities. To be entrusted with that honour would be the greatest privilege of my life." He said: "I take this opportunity to particularly thank my constituents in Ireland South for their unwavering support over the years and their encouragement in recent days." He said he believed a competitive selection process is good for Fine Gael" and would "ensure that we are best placed heading into this vitally important election." Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, he said he was now 'enthusiastic' about running for president. "Obviously circumstances changed with Mairead having to withdraw and that changed the position. We needed a new candidate. I was the last man standing the last time. He continued: "I'm delighted and enthusiastic about the prospect of running for President of Ireland, reflecting what many people have said to me because I underestimated the support I had at grassroots while I was out in Europe," he said. "In the last two or three weeks I'm here at home, everywhere I went people said to me, Seán we're very disappointed you can't go forward, we had the shoes ready, we're looking forward to calling to you in the hours for a cup of tea." Mr Kelly announced on the very same programme last month that he would not seek the Fine Gael nomination for the Áras, describing the position as merely "ceremonial" compared to his work as an MEP. "Well that was in comparison to presidents maybe around the world who have executive power," he said. "But I think actually there's a huge potential in the job is the highest honour in Ireland," he said, praising the "tremendous work" carried out by previous Irish presidents. "I would bring the Áras to the people as much as the people to the Áras," he added. Mr Kelly welcomes the prospect of competing with fellow Fine Gael member Heather Humphreys which he says is "good for democracies". "We didn't have a contest for a long time now. We didn't have a contest at the last presidential election some years ago, within the contest of leadership, we wouldn't go to the contest in marriage of the nomination. So I think people would like to have a contest. Contests are good for parties, they're good for democracies."
Irish Independent
31 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Heather Humphreys builds major lead over Seán Kelly as more FG politicians back her for presidency
The latest senior figure to come out in favour of Humphreys is Enterprise Minister Peter Burke. Both of the hopefuls had previously ruled themselves out of the running, but Fine Gael's plans for the presidency were thrown into chaos last week when former EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness ruled herself out for health reasons. The party's national executive last night decided to reopen nominations, with a deadline of September 2. To secure the party's nomination a candidate will need 20 votes from councillors, 25 members of the Oireachtas and five members of the Executive Council. Those who have publicly backed Ms Humphreys, a former cabinet minister and TD for Cavan-Monaghan, so far include: Peter Burke, Longford – Westmeath TD and Minister for Enterprise Patrick O'Donovan – Limerick TD and Minister for Arts Neale Richmond – TD for Dublin Rathdown and Minister of State for International Development Emer Higgins – Dublin Mid-West TD and junior minister at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform John Clendennen – Offaly TD Catherine Callaghan – Carlow-Kilkenny TD Micheál Carrigy – TD for Longford-Westmeath Grace Boland – TD for Dublin Fingal West James Geoghegan – TD for Dublin Bay South In addition, around 20 more party TDs and senators have either come out publicly for Ms Humphreys or are understood to be supporting her bid. They include: TDs Hildegarde Naughton, Alan Dillon, Jerry Buttimer, John Paul O'Shea, David Maxwell, Frankie Feighan and Paula Butterly. Senators Mark Duffy, Manus Boyle, Maria Byrne, Sean Kyne, Sen Joe O'Reilly, Cathal Byrne, PJ Murphy and Nikki Bradley are also understood to be backing Ms Humphreys. So far Senators Noel O'Donovan, Michael Kenneally, Garrett Ahearn and TDs Joe Cooney, Noel McCarthy, Michael Kenneally and Brian Brennan are supporting Mr Kelly, the MEP from Kerry. Backing Ms Humphreys, Peter Burke said: 'It is an honour to nominate Heather Humphreys to be Fine Gael's Presidential candidate. 'Heather brings over a decade of Cabinet experience and has consistently demonstrated her ability to unite people, extend the hand of friendship, and strengthen communities across this island.' He added: 'Her contribution to public life has been immense, serving with distinction in a wide range of Cabinet roles, and her work continues to leave a lasting impact in towns and communities right across Ireland. 'I look forward to supporting her campaign.' Announcement Ms Humphreys declared her intention to run for the presidency this morning on Northern Sound FM. She appeared on the Joe Finnegan Show on Northern Sound, less than an hour after her party colleague Seán Kelly confirmed his bid for the Áras. "I have decided to go for it and I will be seeking the Fine Gael nomination to be a candidate for the president of Ireland," she said. She added: "I've had a good rest. The tank is full again. Timing is a funny thing, because I have never felt as good about taking on a challenge." Fine Gael is now on course for an internal leadership battle over who should be their candidacy for the presidential election. Speaking this morning Ms Humphreys said: "I'm very conscious that when I was on your program in May, and I told you I wasn't running and that I will be supporting Mairead McGuinness, and that was the truth," she said, in relation to Ms McGuinness who last week announced her withdrawal from the race. "I wasn't going to stand against her, and that's being straight about it. But as we know, everything has changed with Mairead's news last week, and I would just like to wish her well in her recovery. Ms Humphreys attributed her decision not to seek Dáil re-election last November to being "burnt out". "I'd managed both Department of Social protection, the Department of Rural and Community Development - two standard-owned, separate departments - I've managed them for five years. At one point I had the Department of Justice as well, so a lot on." She said that having the backing of her family is "the most important thing from my perspective", though she acknowledges that presidential campaigns are not easy on the families of candidates. "If past presidential campaigns are anything to go by, it's not pleasant for the family, but they are behind me, and they do know the importance of public service," Ms Humphreys said. Acknowledging the announcement by Fine Gael colleague and former GAA President Seán Kelly that he too intends to seek the party nomination, Ms Humphreys said: "Seán has put his name forward, and I know Seán to be a gentleman." In a statement this morning Mr Kelly said: "The time is right to put my name forward for this enormously important role." He said: "As someone who has devoted my life to serving communities across Ireland, as a teacher, as President of the GAA, and for the past sixteen years as MEP for Ireland South, I am confident that I can represent the country with integrity, inclusiveness, and a commitment to our communities. To be entrusted with that honour would be the greatest privilege of my life." He said: "I take this opportunity to particularly thank my constituents in Ireland South for their unwavering support over the years and their encouragement in recent days." He said he believed a competitive selection process is good for Fine Gael" and would "ensure that we are best placed heading into this vitally important election." Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, he said he was now 'enthusiastic' about running for president. "Obviously circumstances changed with Mairead having to withdraw and that changed the position. We needed a new candidate. I was the last man standing the last time. He continued: "I'm delighted and enthusiastic about the prospect of running for President of Ireland, reflecting what many people have said to me because I underestimated the support I had at grassroots while I was out in Europe," he said. "In the last two or three weeks I'm here at home, everywhere I went people said to me, Seán we're very disappointed you can't go forward, we had the shoes ready, we're looking forward to calling to you in the hours for a cup of tea." Mr Kelly announced on the very same programme last month that he would not seek the Fine Gael nomination for the Áras, describing the position as merely "ceremonial" compared to his work as an MEP. "Well that was in comparison to presidents maybe around the world who have executive power," he said. "But I think actually there's a huge potential in the job is the highest honour in Ireland," he said, praising the "tremendous work" carried out by previous Irish presidents. "I would bring the Áras to the people as much as the people to the Áras," he added. Mr Kelly welcomes the prospect of competing with fellow Fine Gael member Heather Humphreys which he says is "good for democracies". "We didn't have a contest for a long time now. We didn't have a contest at the last presidential election some years ago, within the contest of leadership, we wouldn't go to the contest in marriage of the nomination. So I think people would like to have a contest. Contests are good for parties, they're good for democracies."
