Heather Humphreys confirms she will not run in presidential election

Irish Independent

23-05-2025

Ms Humphreys, who was the Minister for Social Protection in the last Dáil, decided not to run in the last general election in order to spend more time with her family.
Since her announcement that she was to leave politics, Ms Humphrey's name has been considered as a potential Fine Gael candidate for the upcoming Presidential election.
Ms Humphries said after much consideration, she has decided she would not run.
'I have made my decision, and I have to say, I have been quite humbled by the number of people who have approached me and said that I should run for the presidency,' Ms Humphreys said.
'I have given it a lot of consideration and a lot of thought, and while it is very flattering and a great honour to be considered for the highest office in the land, I have decided that I will not be running for the presidency,' she added.
Spending more time with family and friends was again the reason for her decision not to enter the race.
'I said at that time I wanted to spend more time with the family, and that my time in public life was over, and that doesn't mean I'm not committed to public service, but I made that decision then, and it is the same,' Ms Humphreys said.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show on Northern Sound Ms Humphreys said she gave a bid for the Áras 'very, very serious consideration'.
'I said at the time, if I was younger, I wouldn't be leaving politics, and the same applies to the presidency. I want to do other things in life, because I have been working.
'People probably don't realise this, between the bank and the credit union and politics, I have worked full time for 47 years,' she said.
Committing to the presidency was a significant decision and Ms Humphreys said she would only have considered it if she was willing to give it 100pc.
'I just feel that it's a job for somebody else this time,' Ms Humphreys said.
The former minister said she would support any Fine Gael candidate selected, but did name check Mairead McGuinness.
'If she decided to put her name forward, she'd have my support. I've known her for many, many years. I've canvassed with her. She's been a brilliant MEP, a fantastic European Commissioner, and she has been a great ambassador for Ireland,' Ms Humphreys said.
'So I know her well, and as I say, she'd have my support,' she added.
Ms Humhreys said she did not discuss her decision with Tanaiste and leader of Fine Gael, Simon Harris.
'I didn't discuss it with anybody. This was my own decision. I discussed it with my family, and so many people have said it to me, and I felt that it was time now to let people know what my decision was,' she said.