Presidential election: Minister backs Humphreys, TD endorses Kelly
Vivienne Clarke
Fine Gael is set for a contest for the party's presidential nomination, with party figures starting to come out in support of former minister Heather Humphreys and TD Seán Kelly.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan has declared his support for “my good friend and colleague” Heather Humphreys in the competition for the Fine Gael party’s nomination to contest the presidency.
Fine Gael TD Noel McCarthy has endorsed MEP Seán Kelly in his bid for the nomination to represent the party.
Mr O’Donovan told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show that he and Ms Humphreys had entered politics on the same day. “We went into the council together on the same day, we went into Dail together on the same day, served in government and served in cabinet with her and she's a great friend of mine and I'm backing Heather Humphreys.
“For me, Heather Humphreys has all of the qualities and attributes that are needed at this time to be the first citizen and a constitutional protector in terms of President of Ireland. She has served in a constitutional officership of many government departments. She's rooted in her community.
"She is rooted in community. And really, there isn't a parish or a four crossroads in this country that she hasn't touched somewhere in her many ministries, particularly in rural development and social protection.
“And I think that based on the experiences that she has and based on, you know, the people that have gone before her in terms of being the first citizen of Ireland, she has all of the attributes that we need, not just as a party, but as a country. And one of the things that Heather will do is broaden the base that will allow people to join a campaign to support that will really, I think, enthuse people.”
Array of talents.
Mr McCarthy told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show that the Fine Gael party had an “array of talents” and that no matter who won the contest to represent the party, they would have the full support of the parliamentary party and the wider Fine Gael party.
In tribute to Mr Kelly, Mr McCarthy said that the MEP had done “marvellous work” in his role as an MEP and that had been reflected in the vote in the last European election when he got 125,000 votes.
“He is a great public servant. And he has a wider appeal as well. My admiration for Sean came first in 2007 when he was president of the GAA, a great organization. And he opened up Croke Park for the soccer when Lansdowne Road at the time was being renovated. He opened up, he was instrumental in getting Croke Park opened to the first soccer to be played. I went to the first match during 2007, where Ireland played Wales and I think it wouldn't have happened only for the influence of Sean.
“Seán appeals to a lot more people than the Fine Gael party. If I can give one example of that. Is that he launched my own election in November last year, but when he came canvassing with me and met people, I can honestly say that politics was mentioned very few times with Seán Kelly. He was just known for so many different things and the conversation with people was based on so many different subjects, that to me shows Seán has a wider appeal to a lot, a lot of people.”
She has traipsed every length and breadth of this country.
Mr O’Donovan said he was backing the person he believed was the best person “at the moment” to be President of Ireland. Ms Humphreys had “left her mark” in every parish “whether it was in relation to providing every child in Ireland with a hot school meal, whether it's engaging with the GAA, whether it’s in relation to community centres or tidy towns, she has traipsed every length and breadth of this country".
“You can find plaques all over the place of her. Because at the end of the day, what she has done is she has brought back hope that was lost in many urban and rural communities through the many initiatives that she spearheaded in government."
He added: “Heather Humphreys has never backed away from a single job in her life, whether it was in relation to working in the bank, running a credit union, being on a family farm, raising a family, standing for politics, she replaced the late Seymour Crawford. Her own story is one of inclusion and of building relationships and building communities. And that's what I think this country needs at the moment in terms of somebody who is going to be the first citizen of Ireland.”
Ms Humphreys had not entered the presidential race previously because of her loyalty to Mairead McGuinness, he added. “I think that's something that should be noted. And one of the really strong attributes. That's a single symbol of the woman's loyalty to the people that know her best.”
