Heather Humphreys was excused from vote on inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell

Attendance at the voting block is routinely added to ministers' schedules, sources said

Heather Humphreys (centre) canvasses with Tánaiste Simon Harris (left) in Dublin ahead of Munster's game with Leinster in Croke Park on Saturday. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady

Heather Humphreys was paired and on ministerial travel and therefore excused from a vote on an inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell in 2018, despite the Dáil voting block being included on her public diary. 

The Fine Gael presidential election candidate was the local TD of Mr O'Farrell, who died in August 2011 while he was cycling home when he was struck by a car driven by Zigimantas Gridziuska, near Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan. At the time of Mr O'Farrell’s death, Gridziuska was on bail in connection with a number of separate incidents.