Heather Humphreys vows to relearn Irish in Gaeltacht if elected President
Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys pledges to put unity and reconciliation at heart of presidency. icture: Gareth Chaney
Fine Gael’s presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has promised to return to the Gaeltacht to learn Irish if she is elected President.
Speaking on , Ms Humphreys said that while she could speak a “cúpla focal,” she had not used Irish since leaving school.
“I passed Irish in my leaving cert and like a lot of people in this country, I went out to the world of work and didn’t use Irish,” Ms Humphreys.
Ms Humphreys said she visited the Gaeltacht in 2017 during her time as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, adding that she found the language returning to her.
“I promise that if I am elected as President, I will return to the Gaeltacht and I will learn Irish,” Ms Humphreys said.
The former Social Protection Minister was formally confirmed as Fine Gael’s candidate on Tuesday, after MEP Seán Kelly withdrew from the race for the party’s nomination.
Ms Humphreys said she wanted to use the presidency to “facilitate reconciliation and understanding,” highlighting her background as a border county Presbyterian.
She pointed to her role in overseeing the 1916 commemorations, noting that while there had been concerns they might prove divisive, they instead “brought people together.”
“There was a real sense of national pride and identity. I think we need to get back to that, that sense of community, that sense of bringing people together and building bridges,” Ms Humphreys said.
“That’ll be very much at the centre of my campaign.” Ms Humphreys said she was old enough to recall the Troubles, highlighting how she grew up on a farm just six miles from the border.
“What I can say is thankfully that violence is gone, but peace is something we still have to work on,” Ms Humphreys.
“I do feel I am uniquely placed to reach out to communities in Northern Ireland and build on the good work already done in breaking down barriers and building trust.
“It’s only when we have a united people that we can have a united Ireland.”
The former Cavan-Monaghan TD said there needed to be a conversation about a united Ireland, but stressed it must be “inclusive” and efforts must be made to engage communities who do not normally take part.
Ms Humphreys said she would not be a “Fine Gael president” when asked about her party’s 14 years in power.
“The President is above party politics and I want to be a president for all the people on our island,” Ms Humphreys said.
On the limits of the office, Ms Humphreys said she would remain within the constitutional boundaries of the presidency, but declined to say if President Michael D. Higgins had strayed beyond them.
“There’s no point in people promising in this election that they’re going to solve every problem in the country, because that’s not the role of the President,” Ms Humphreys said.
“If I felt there was an issue I should speak out on, I would do so, but I would be very careful not to breach the constitutional limits of the role of the President.”
Asked if she would accept the salary of the position, Ms Humphreys said she would, but pledged to return her ministerial pension to the State, as President Higgins has done.
