'It's going to be Heather': Humphreys emerges as Fine Gael favourite for Áras run

While Ms Humphreys had ruled herself out, she has indicated her willingness to run in recent days. Sources indicated that she is currently building a team for her campaign

Multiple TDs told the 'Irish Examiner' that the former Cavan-Monaghan TD Heather Humphreys would have enough support within the Fine Gael parliamentary party to run. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Heather Humphreys is the frontrunner to replace Mairead McGuinness as the Fine Gael presidential candidate, as the party formally reopens its nominations on Tuesday.

A meeting of the Fine Gael executive council confirmed the nomination process would begin again, after the dramatic exit of Ms McGuinness from the presidential election on health grounds.

Under the rules set out by the party on Monday evening, prospective candidates — Ms Humphreys and MEP Seán Kelly — will be required to receive 20 nominations from Fine Gael TDs and senators to contest the internal election. They will also need 25 councillors and five members of the executive council to get on the ballot.

The nominations are set to remain open until September 2. If multiple nominees are in place at that stage, the party will hold a formal contest to select its candidate for the presidential election.

Fine Gael uses an electoral collage system, giving the most sway to its parliamentary party rather than using a one member, one vote system.

While Ms Humphreys ruled herself out earlier this year, she has indicated her willingness to run for the Áras in recent days. Sources indicated that she is currently in the process of building a team for her campaign.

Multiple sources confirmed MEP Seán Kelly is taking soundings as to a possible run, and he is expected to release a statement on his candidacy on Tuesday. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA

Multiple TDs told the Irish Examiner that the former Cavan-Monaghan TD would have enough support within the parliamentary party to run.

A number of TDs have already backed Ms Humphreys publicly, including junior minister Emer Higgins and Fingal TD Grace Boland.

Others, while not publicly backing Ms Humphreys as of yet, have reached out to the former TD and urged her to stand.

“It’s going to be Heather,” one Fine Gael minister said, adding that she was the candidate most favoured by the party’s leadership and  highlighting her close friendship with Tánaiste Simon Harris and culture minister Patrick O’Donovan.

I think its just a matter of her saying she wants to run for President

Multiple sources confirmed Mr Kelly is taking soundings as to a possible run, and he is expected to release a statement on his candidacy on Tuesday.

One Munster-based Fine Gael TD said they would back Mr Kelly if he decides to run, adding they expected he would throw his hat into the ring in the days ahead.

However, Sinn Féin has raised questions about the presence of Martin Conway, a former Fine Gael senator, on the party’s replacement list in Ireland South. This means, if Mr Kelly was elected as President, Mr Conway would be first in line to replace him as MEP.

Mr Conway is currently facing an internal Fine Gael disciplinary process after he was arrested in January for being intoxicated on Dublin’s O’Connell St.

Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly called for Fine Gael to “urgently answer questions and provide clarity” on the situation.

The Irish Examiner contacted Fine Gael for clarity on the replacement list, but did not receive a response as of publication.

Dr Tony Holohan: 'I’ve had protests outside my house during the course of covid that weighed heavily on my children.' Picture: Brian Lawless/PA 

Meanwhile, former chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan confirmed he would not be contesting the upcoming election, saying he made his decision based on experiences he and his family faced in recent years.

“You don’t get to have a prominent role in public life without having people who will have a variety of different opinions on that and find ways of making those opinions known,” Dr Holohan said on RTÉ Radio One.

“Sometimes that strayed into areas that, for me, would have been unacceptable. I’ve had protests outside my house during the course of covid that weighed heavily on my children.”

Dr Holohan also cited abusive comments he received after his wife’s death.

“I’ve had people put comments on social media that they’re glad your wife — and using much more colourful language than that — is dead, and things like that,” he added.

“My children have had to see all of those things.”