Heather Humphreys

Heather Humphreys (born 14 May 1963) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served in various cabinet positions since 2014, currently serving 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 has served as Deputy leader of Fine Gael since 2024.

Early life
Humphreys was born in the village of Drum, County Monaghan, in 1963. She is 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. Humphreys was educated at St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill. She then attended University College Galway. 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. She was elected as Mayor of Monaghan County in 2009. 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.

Ministerial career
After an initial period on the backbenches, in a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014, Humphreys was appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. 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". Although Humphreys said John Nulty was selected "on merit", she later admitted she regretted the decision.

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.

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". The buildings were where the leaders of the 1916 Easter rising surrendered.

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. She was appointed as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the government of Leo Varadkar in July 2017.

On 30 November 2017, she was appointed as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. She succeeded Frances Fitzgerald, who had resigned on 28 November.

On 27 June 2020, she was appointed as Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. 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. In November 2022, she was assigned to the position of Minister for Justice for a second time on the maternity leave of McEntee.

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.

On 27 January 2024, she was appointed as Fine Gael's Director of Elections for the March 2024 Irish constitutional referendums.

On 5 April 2024, she was appointed as Deputy leader of Fine Gael.