Tanaiste has ‘no regrets’ about Humphreys candidacy for Fine Gael

The Tanaiste said he has “no regrets” about the selection of Heather Humphreys as Fine Gael’s presidential candidate.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was speaking to journalists at Dublin Castle after it became clear independent candidate Catherine Connolly would win over his party’s candidate.

He claimed Ms Humphreys “held” the Fine Gael vote, adding “it looks like she’ll get close to 30%”.

“That’s way more than Fine Gael is polling and way more than Fine Gael got in a general election.”

The Tanaiste also said he was “most particularly concerned” about the low turn-out and the high number of spoiled votes, which he said showed “the number of people in Ireland now who are clearly feeling disaffected or disconnected with politics”.

He also noted that some voters put “quite a lot of effort in spoiling their ballot”.

“People actually decided to get their car, get their bicycle, walk to their polling station, they didn’t just sit at home.”

Simon Harris said it was “legitimate” to ask whether the nomination process needs to be changed.

But said “there has to be some threshold to get the balance right”.

The Taoiseach said he will “engage constructively across party lines” about what, if any, change is needed.

Asked if a video published by Fine Gael published on social media attacking Catherine Connolly’s record as a barrister backfired, he replied: “I’m not sure anything backfired, in many ways the video asked the questions that many of you (the press) were asking.”

Mr Harris repeatedly congratulated Ms Connolly for her victory saying “today is her day” continuing: “I wish her well as I know people right across this country do as she prepares to this office.”