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HEATHER HUMPHREYS HAS said she “won’t be a Fine Gael president”, a day after she was endorsed as Fine Gael’s candidate in the election.
Humphreys, who has been in politics since 2003, is now the second officially confirmed candidate for the Áras, alongside Independent Catherine Connolly.
Speaking on RTÉ earlier today, Humphreys said that although she is grateful for the nomination, she wants to be a president for “all the people” of Ireland, not just Fine Gael.
Despite her stated desire not to be a “Fine Gael president”, she has served with the party for 14 years, and was grilled on her record from the time.
It was put to her that under her party’s leadership the country has experienced a housing crisis and record numbers of homelessness.
“Did I get everything right? No. Did government get everything right? No. But I’ll tell you what I did do, I did my best and judge me on my record,” she said in response.
The Co Monaghan ex-minister also fielded a question on her proposed overhaul of disability payments, which was deemed ‘ableist’ and later scrapped.
She said the proposal, which would have required disabled people to be examined for their ability to work, and then receive a lower disability payment if they could work, was “only ever a consultation”.
She also highlighted the positive changes made in her time, including an increase in disability and carers payments.
Early in her time in government, Humphreys was involved in a major scandal over a board appointment.
She appointing John McNulty, a supermarket owner in Donegal, to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the request of Fine Gael officials – a move which Fianna Fáil claimed was to help him get into the Seanad.
Speaking about the decision, she accepted it was a “mistake” but said it occured eleven years ago in her first weeks as a minister.
“Back then, there was no clear process in place for board appointments, now we have the public appointment system” she added.
She said that as well as being a Protestant, she was a “proud Republican” and believes in a united Ireland.
She added that she would use the presidency to “represent all of us on this island” and “break down barriers”.
“I feel I am uniquely best to reach out to communities in Northern Ireland and build on that good work that has already been done,” she said.
When asked about her statement from October last year on retiring from politics as she was “burnt out”, Humphreys said she has since had a “great rest” and her “batteries” are fully recharged.
Earlier this week Taoiseach Micheal Martin backed former GAA manager Jim Gavin for the Fianna Fáil presidential nomination.
Gavin is up against MEP Billy Kelleher – but the party will not make an official nomination until next Tuesday, 9 September.
Speaking at the launch of the government’s new disability strategy today, Martin waved away concerns that his party members are unhappy with how he has handled the presidency and his strong support of Gavin.
“A lot of nonsense is being written now, to be frank,” he said.
Later in the day, a group of six Fianna Fáil TD’s, including Malcolm Byrne and Naoise Ó Cearúil, formally affirmed their support for Gavin outside Leinster House.
Ó Cearúil said that although Kelleher is an “extremely capable and able politician”, Gavin has the “national profile” needed to win the election.
He said that Gavin answered the TD’s questions on “big issues” and they were satisfied he had what it takes to represent the party as president.
He would not say exactly what position Gavin takes on these issues, a question many are asking given the Áras hopeful has not yet publicly spoken on his run for presidency.
In other presidential news, Solidarity has officially expressed their support for Catherine Connolly run for the Áras,
Ruth Coppinger TD commented: “Catherine Connolly is the candidate who is most associated with standing up to the genocide in Gaza.”
“While the Presidency is a largely symbolic role, the Presidential election can be an important opportunity to send a message to the political establishment nationally and internationally.”
With additional reporting from Jane Moore
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