Heather Humphreys
Heather Humphreys | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Minister for Social Protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 27 June 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Regina Doherty | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Rural and Community Development | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 27 June 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taoiseach | Micheál Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Michael Ring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Justice | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incumbent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office February 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Cavan–Monaghan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Heather Stewart 14 May 1963[1] Drum, County Monaghan, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Irish | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Fine Gael | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Eric Humphreys (m. 1996) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | NUI Galway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | heatherhumphreys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heather Humphreys (born 14 May 1963) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection since June 2020. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency since 2011. She previously served as Minister for Justice from April to November 2021, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation from 2017 to 2020, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht from June 2017 to November 2017, Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2016 to 2017 and Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht from 2014 to 2016.[2]
Early life[]
Humphreys was born in the village of Drum, County Monaghan, in 1963. Raised as a Presbyterian, her father is a member of the Orange Order, while her grandfather, Robert James Stewart, signed the Ulster Covenant opposing Home Rule in 1912.[3][4] Humphreys was educated at St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill. She then attended University College Galway (now NUI Galway).[5] 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.
Early political career[]
Following 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.[6] She was elected as Mayor of Monaghan County in 2009.[7] While a member of the council, she served as Chair of the council's Strategic Policy Committee on Planning and Economic Development.
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.[8]
Ministerial career[]
After an initial period on the backbenches, Humphreys was appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, following a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014.[9] 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".[10] Although Humphreys said John Nulty was selected "on merit", she later admitted she regretted the decision.[11]
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.[12]
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".[13] The buildings were where the first bullets of the 1916 Easter rising were fired.[14]
Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Humphreys was appointed to the expanded position of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.[15][16] She was appointed as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the government of Leo Varadkar in July 2017.
On 30 November 2017, Humphreys was appointed as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. She succeeded Frances Fitzgerald, who had resigned on 28 November.[17]
On 27 June 2020, Humphreys was appointed as Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.[18] On 27 April, 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.[19]
References[]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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". 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) – Wednesday, 28 Apr 2021". Oireachtas. 28 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
External links[]
- 1963 births
- Living people
- Alumni of NUI Galway
- Women government ministers of the Republic of Ireland
- Fine Gael TDs
- Irish Presbyterians
- Local councillors in County Monaghan
- Members of the 31st Dáil
- Members of the 32nd Dáil
- 21st-century women Teachtaí Dála
- Members of the 33rd Dáil
- Ministers for Social Affairs (Ireland)
- Ministers for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Female justice ministers
- Ministers for Justice (Ireland)