Heather Humphreys in pole position to be Fine Gael nominee for presidency

Ms Humphreys has backing from 38 Fine Gael parliamentary party members — almost double the number she needs

Then minister Heather Humphreys and then European election candidate Seán Kelly with party leader Simon Harris at FG's election manifesto launch in May 2024. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Former social protection minister Heather Humphreys is in pole position to be Fine Gael’s nominee for the presidency, as she significantly leads MEP Seán Kelly in party backing.

Ms Humphreys has a total of 38 backers, almost double the required nominations as set out by the Fine Gael executive council on Monday evening.

Mr Kelly, meanwhile, has eight confirmed backers, 12 shy of the required 20 to get on the party’s ballot.

In total, there are 58 members of Fine Gael’s parliamentary party, which includes TDs, Senators and MEPs.

Sources in Fine Gael have questioned where Mr Kelly can get the remaining votes. 

In previous nominations processes, the leader of the party and the director of elections, in this case Simon Harris and Martin Heydon respectively, have refrained from voting for candidates.

One TD said they “can’t see where the 20 [nominations] come from” for Mr Kelly.

Another TD said Mr Kelly could opt to withdraw from the race, if he did not have a path to the nomination.

Backers of Ms Humphreys include Cabinet ministers Peter Burke, Patrick O’Donovan, and Hildegarde Naughton, junior ministers Emer Higgins, Neale Richmond, Alan Dillon, Jerry Buttimer, John Cummins, and Colm Brophy.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

Other backers include Cork North West TD John Paul O’Shea and Cork North Central TD Colm Burke.

Mr Kelly’s backers include Cork East TD Noel McCarthy, Tipperary South TD Michael Murphy, Cork senator Garret Kelleher, and Tipperary senator Garret Ahearn.

Several TDs are yet to make a formal decision, including Wicklow TD Edward Timmins and Laois TD Willie Aird.