Heather Maud Humphreys (born 1960) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who served in various cabinet positions from 2014 to 2024, currently serving as Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection since June 2020. A Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency from 2011 to 2024,[4] she served as deputy leader of Fine Gael from April to October 2024.
Heather Humphreys | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Humphreys in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Social Protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 27 June 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Regina Doherty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Rural and Community Development | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 27 June 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach |
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| Preceded by | Michael Ring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy leader of Fine Gael | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 5 April 2024 – 19 October 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leader | Simon Harris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Simon Coveney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Helen McEntee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Justice | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 November 2022 – 17 December 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Helen McEntee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Simon Harris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 April 2021 – 1 November 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Helen McEntee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Helen McEntee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Teachta Dála | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office February 2011 – November 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Cavan–Monaghan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Heather Maud Stewart 1960 (age 63–64)[1][2] Drum, County Monaghan, Ireland[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Fine Gael | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Eric Humphreys (m. 1987) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | St. Aidan's Comprehensive School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University College Galway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | heatherhumphreys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editHeather Maud Stewart was born in the village of Drum, County Monaghan, in 1960.[5] She is a Presbyterian; her father was a member of the Orange Order, while her grandfather, Robert James Stewart, signed the Ulster Covenant opposing Home Rule in 1912.[6][7] Humphreys was educated at St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill. She then attended University College Galway.[8] For a number of years she worked as an official with Ulster Bank and the Credit Union. She was later appointed manager of Cootehill Credit Union.[citation needed]
Early political career
editFollowing the abolition of the dual mandate in 2003, Humphreys was co-opted onto Monaghan County Council in succession to Seymour Crawford. She was elected in her own right at the 2004 local elections and once again following the 2009 local elections.[9] She was elected as Mayor of Monaghan County in 2009.[10] While a member of the council, she served as chair of the council's Strategic Policy Committee on Planning and Economic Development.[citation needed]
Humphreys was elected as a Fine Gael TD for Cavan–Monaghan at the 2011 general election. She is the only Presbyterian member of the Oireachtas.[11]
Ministerial career
editAfter an initial period on the backbenches, in a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014, Humphreys was appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.[12] After just a few months in the position she became embroiled in controversy over her appointment of John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) on 12 September 2014 just before his nomination for a Seanad by-election to the Cultural and Educational Panel. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said at the "very basic level, she should say what officials in Fine Gael asked her to appoint Mr McNulty to the board of Imma".[13] Although Humphreys said John Nulty was selected "on merit", she later admitted she regretted the decision.[14]
In the preparations of the 2016 Easter Rising centenary celebrations, she said:
Given my background as a Protestant and an Ulsterwoman who is a proud Irish republican, I appreciate the need to respect the differing traditions on this island.[15]
In March 2016, Humphreys approved a decision to demolish the buildings 13–19 on Moore Street as she deemed them to not be of "historical importance".[16] The buildings were where the leaders of the 1916 Easter rising surrendered.[17]
Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, she was appointed to the expanded position of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.[18][19] She was appointed as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the government of Leo Varadkar in July 2017.[citation needed]
On 30 November 2017, she was appointed as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. She succeeded Frances Fitzgerald, who had resigned on 28 November.[20]
On 27 June 2020, she was appointed as Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.[21] On 27 April 2021, she was assigned the addition position of Minister for Justice on a temporary basis during the maternity leave of Helen McEntee, serving until 1 November 2021.[22] In November 2022, she was assigned to the position of Minister for Justice for a second time on the maternity leave of McEntee.[23]
On 17 December 2022, she was re-appointed to the same positions following Leo Varadkar's appointment as Taoiseach, but the temporary position of Minister for Justice was assigned to Simon Harris.[24]
On 27 January 2024, she was appointed as Fine Gael's Director of Elections for the referendums on the Family and Care.[25]
On 5 April 2024, she was appointed as Deputy leader of Fine Gael.[26]
On 19 October 2024, Humphreys announced that she would not contest the 2024 general election, saying "politicians are human too". She also stepped down as Fine Gael deputy leader.[27]
References
edit- ^ Regan, Mary (20 October 2024). "'Gave it my all' - Humphreys won't stand in next election". RTÉ News.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys: long-serving TD was Cabinet mainstay through Fine Gael years in government". The Irish Times. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 27. ISBN 9780717150595.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys". 100 Years of Women in Politics & Public Life. 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ Moriarty, Gerry (8 August 2016). "Protestant drum is still beating strong in Border village". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ McGreevy, Ronan (21 January 2016). "My grandfather signed the Ulster Covenant, Minister says". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Self-aware Humphreys ready to do the business". Irish Examiner. 1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys". Election 2011. TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
- ^ "Profile: Heather Humphreys". Irish Independent. 12 July 2014. Archived from the original on 31 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "As It Happened: Cabinet reshuffle". RTÉ News. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ Regan, Mary (4 October 2014). "Humphreys faces grilling by Dáil committee". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Humphreys: "I have learned valuable lessons"". Today FM. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys: 1916 commemorations belong to all". The Irish Times. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
- ^ Pollak, Sorcha (28 March 2016). "Heather Humphreys heckled during 1916 Moore Street centenary event". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Bray, Allison (28 March 2016). "'Shame on you' - Heather Humphreys heckled as she laid wreath at Moore Street for 1916 Rising Centenary". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Frances Fitzgerald is Tánaiste in new Cabinet". RTÉ News. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "The new cabinet". Irish Independent. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Taoiseach names Simon Coveney as new Tánaiste". RTÉ News. 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
- ^ "CONFIRMED: Humphreys announced as Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Affairs and the islands". northernsound.ie. 27 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Ministerial Responsibilities – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) – Vol. 1006 No. 2". Oireachtas. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ Meskill, Tommy (17 November 2022). "Humphreys to cover Minister for Justice role during McEntee maternity leave". RTÉ News. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ Lehane, Micheál (17 December 2022). "Reshuffle: Who is in the new Cabinet?". RTÉ News. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "Fine Gael appoints Minister Heather Humphreys as Director of Elections for upcoming referendums". Fine Gael. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Heather Humphreys confirmed as Fine Gael deputy leader". breakingnews.ie. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ Lehane, Mícheál (19 October 2024). "Heather Humphreys will not contest next general election". RTÉ News. Retrieved 19 October 2024.