Heather Humphreys's presidential campaign to focus on 'building bridges'
Heather Humphreys, a former minister and TD for Cavan-Monaghan, is one of three confirmed candidates in the race and will join Catherine Connolly and Jim Gavin on the ballot paper in next month’s election, which is set to take place on October 24. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
Former social protection minister Heather Humphreys will officially launch her bid for the presidency on Saturday, focusing on "building bridges".
Ms Humphreys, who earlier this month was confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate following the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness, will launch her campaign and her vision for the presidency at a rally at the Peace Campus in the heart of Monaghan town.
It is understood that Ms Humphrey's speech will focus on the ideas of working with communities, of bringing people together, building bridges, and "reaching out the hand of friendship".
Ms Humphreys, a former minister and TD for Cavan-Monaghan, is one of three confirmed candidates in the race and will join Catherine Connolly and Jim Gavin on the ballot paper in next month’s election, which is set to take place on October 24.
Fine Gael confirmed on Tuesday that Ms Humphreys had reached the required threshold for nomination. She will be ratified as a candidate on Saturday.
In a letter to Fine Gael, Ms Humphreys said she was “delighted” to get the nomination.
“I want to pay tribute to Seán Kelly, who is a gentleman and a talented and dedicated public representative," she said.
"I will be a candidate with a vision; with experience and with a track record of supporting communities; bringing people together and representing Ireland on the world stage.
"I’m not promising perfection but I promise honesty, compassion, and service."
Meanwhile, the Independent Ireland party has said that its four TDs would back barrister Maria Steen's bid to get on the ballot, but only if she reaches 16 other Oireachtas members first. To be nominated by the Oireachtas, a person needs the backing of 20 TDs and senators before September 24.
Ms Steen secured the public backing of eight TDs and senators, while another two have given a commitment and are expected to make a statement in the coming days, according to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. However, party leader Michael Collins said that his party would only consider supporting any candidate when it was clear that their support would secure a nomination.
"This isn't about Maria Steen, it's about any candidate," Mr Collins said.
The party's official X account, however, cast doubt on the number of backers Ms Steen has, telling independent senator Sharon Keogan to "be honest with people and stop the nonsense".
The account said that Ms Keogan had "made a false statement yesterday that Maria Steen had the backing of junior minister Michael Healy Rae and Barry Heneghan and that this was "completely untrue".
"Stop being disingenuous — you are doing more harm than good to Maria Steen's campaign and are in fact making her path to the ballot more difficult. They are the facts," the party posted on X after Ms Keogan had criticised its position.
Ms Steen on Friday failed in her bid to get the backing of the Fingal County Council. She was one of just two candidates invited to speak at the council, alongside pharma entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan.
In the first round of voting, Mr Sheridan received seven votes to Ms Steen's four. When the resolution to nominate him as the council's pick was put to the floor, however, he received seven votes of approval with 18 councillors voting to block his nomination.
