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The Journal
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Heather for President is surging in Fine Gael circles, but who is the Monaghan ex-minister?
FINE GAEL HAS begun its contest to choose who will replace Mairead McGuinness as its candidate for the presidential election. Ahead of nominations formally opening at midday today, two candidates had already thrown their hats in the ring. First out of the traps was MEP Seán Kelly, who told RTÉ's Morning Ireland he would be 'honoured' to represent his party. A short time later, former minister Heather Humphreys told her local Cavan-Monaghan radio station Northern Sound that she had 'decided to go for it'. As it stands, Humphreys looks to be the favourite by a mile, with the public support of a significant number of Fine Gael TDs and senators already. It is also understood that Humphreys is the preferred candidate of Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris. So who is Heather Humphreys and why does she want to be President of Ireland? Straight talker Humphreys, who has been in politics since 2003, has served under four taoisigh: Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, and Simon Harris. She is the longest-serving female Cabinet Minister in Fine Gael history. Before her retirement, Humphreys served most recently as Minister for Social Protection and Rural Affairs and also had a short stint as deputy leader of Fine Gael following Simon Harris's appointment as leader in April 2024. Humphreys and Harris were both elected to the Dáil in 2011 and were close confidants while in office. Harris and Humphreys are known to have a close friendship. So much so that Humphreys was chosen to propose Harris in the Dáil when he was elected as Taoiseach last year. Known for her straight talk and wit, Humphreys prompted laughs in the chamber when she said she thought 24-year-old Harris was 'a young lad walking around on a school tour' when she first met him in Leinster House. Humphreys's time in government began with a rocky start when, as Minister for Arts, she was embroiled in a scandal over a botched appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). Humphreys gave a number of uneasy performances in media interviews at the time before admitting in a statement that she had been asked to appoint the candidate in question, John McNulty, a supermarket owner in Donegal, to the board at the request of Fine Gael officials. Reflecting on that period in an interview with the Irish Times last year, Humphreys said the ordeal taught her an important lesson: 'Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. I never forgot it.' Despite her rough start as a minister, Humphreys endured and became a reliable figure at the Cabinet table and a hugely popular one among the Fine Gael grassroots. Her confidence in front of the media grew over the years. In 2023 when she was approached by two reporters from The Ditch who were seeking comment on claims she did not seek planning permission for using two derelict residential properties she owns as office storage, she allegedly told them: 'Do you know what youse boys do? Fuck off and leave me alone.' Humphreys in 2021 Alamy Alamy 'Proud Ulsterwoman, Protestant and Irish republican' Before entering the Dáil in 2011, Humphreys was the manager of the credit union in Cootehill, close to where she lived with her husband Eric and their two daughters. From Drum in County Monaghan, Humphreys, a Presbyterian and daughter of an Orangeman, has previously described herself as 'a proud Ulsterwoman, a Protestant and an Irish republican' and has long spoken of the need for inclusion on the island. Advertisement While Minister for Heritage, she was heckled on a number of occasions and criticised over her department's stance on the protection of buildings linked to the Easter Rising . Her proficiency in the Irish language was called into question after she was appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in 2014. Asked a month into the role if she had started Irish lessons after she admitted she had lost the ability to speak the language fluently, Humphreys said: 'No I haven't started Irish lessons yet, but I do hope to get some squeezed in at some stage shortly. I can't give you a timescale because the schedule is very busy.' She also faced criticism two years into the brief when she refused to meet with Irish language organisations such as Conradh na Gaeilge and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Humphreys defended her decision, arguing that responsibility for such meetings fell to the minister of state in the Department, not her. Around the same time, she also declined to be interviewed on the Irish-language radio station RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta (RnaG). A spokesperson for the Minister said she declined the invitation because she cannot speak Irish, but despite the show clarifying that the interview could have been conducted in English, the Minister still declined to take part. It was reported around the same time that she had visited the Gaeltacht for a week to improve her language skills. Legacy Reflecting on her Dáil career, Humphreys cites Hot School Meals as her legacy project while Minister for Social Protection, while the rollout of the auto-enrollment retirement savings system will also be seen as transformative — if the government finally implements it. During her time as Minister for Social Protection, Humphreys also scrapped proposals put forward by her own department to reform disability payments after campaigners labelled them as 'ableist'. The reforms would have introduced a tiered system for Disability Allowance and would have linked the level of payments to a determination on capacity to work and the nature of the disability. A month before she announced the decision not to proceed with the reforms, the government had received a resounding defeat in the Care Referendum. The proposed amendment, if passed, would have seen the deletion of reference to a woman's 'life within the home' and her 'duties in the home'. However, disability campaigners argued that the replacement wording put forward by the government would have classed disabled people as 'burdens' on their families and society. Humphreys was also the minister in charge when the government decided to double the fine a jobseeker receives if they do not engage with unemployment services , a move that was heavily criticised by opposition TDs. Elsewhere, while a minister, she was the person who proposed that XL bully dogs would be banned after a spate of attacks, a move that animal behavioural experts took issue with. 'Back to my old self' When she announced her retirement from the Dáil, the Cavan-Monaghan TD said it was because she was no longer able to give the job her all. 'Politicians are human too; we give all we can for as long as we can but time catches up on us all. As I get older, my health and energy levels are not what they were and I know going forward that I would not be able to give the job the time and commitment it deserves,' she said at the time. Speaking today, the 65-year-old said she was feeling 'burnt out at the time' and that 'everything has changed.' 'I knew the tank was probably running on empty, so I've been enjoying life since I retired from the Dáil. The family are well, I'm well. I feel like I'm back to my old self,' Humphreys said. '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 a challenge.' Why does she want to be president? Asked why she had decided to campaign for Fine Gael's presidential bid, Humphreys said that the role of president is a 'unifying force'. 'I want to focus on using the presidency to listen to people. I want to hear their story and where there is division, try and facilitate reconciliation and understanding,' Humphreys said. 'And I do want to deepen relationships between the people of this island, both north and south.' 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
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Race for Áras heats up as Heather Humphreys is formally nominated as FG presidential candidate just hours after declaring candidacy
Ms Humphreys revealed earlier today how she had 'never felt as good' to re-enter the Irish political fray and seek the Fine Gael nomination to succeed President Michael D Higgins in November. The proud Monaghan native and holder of multi cabinet portfolios formally declared her candidacy this morning just a matter of months after announcing her decision to retire from public life for good at the last November. Just a matter of minutes after making her intentions clear, Ms Humphreys was formally nominated by Longford-Westmeath Fine Gael TD Micheál Carrigy. Follow Independent Longford on Facebook The Ballinalee postmaster and chair of the Fine Gael parliamentary party is widely viewed as being one of its fastest rising stars in a move that is likely to spark a hotly contested two week nomination process. Mr Carrigy said his decision to put forward Ms Humphrey's name had been largely determined by the former Cavan-Monaghan TD's long-standing cabinet career and by the all-inclusive approach she would bring to the role. 'During her time in national politics she has supported every community in Longford/Westmeath and indeed throughout the country,' he said. 'She will bring energy and enthusiasm to the role both nationally North and South and internationally.' Those remarks followed on from Ms Humphrey's own assertions and ambitions to use the Irish presidency as a conduit to facilitate 'reconciliation and understanding' on both sides of the border. 'We are living in an increasingly divisive world and I believe the president can be a unifying force in this country that really brings people together,' she said. 'I do want to deepen relationships between the people of this island, both north and south and I want to be a president a modern and outward looking Ireland with pride on the international stage.'
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly to seek Fine Gael nomination to run in presidential election
Former Fine Gael minister 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. READ MORE '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)
