OPINION: Why I’ll be supporting Heather Humphreys for next Irish President

I am voting Heather Humphreys number 1 on Friday because I believe the Office of Uachtaráin na hEireann is an incredibly important position. Whoever is elected on Friday will become Ireland’s Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Irish Defence Forces.

When I was 17 years old, I signed an Oath of Allegiance to the Irish State and while I may no longer be a serving member of the Defence Forces the love and allegiance, I hold for our country is stronger now than ever. As a mother of three teenagers, I care greatly about the future direction of our country and who we elected as our next Head of State is vitally important in determining that direction.

Friday’s election matters, your vote matters, your voice matters and how you would like Ireland to be represented in the world matters.
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We can all recognise the current world we live in is a turbulent place with increasing level of hostility and mistrust – so we need a President who will bring countries together, who has a listening ear, a willingness to understand difference, an experienced voice to speak about all that is good about Ireland whilst also acknowledge the challenges we face as a society and as a member of the European Union.

Ireland's president needs to be experienced enough to recognise that one can’t simply point to what is wrong, one needs to work with others for the common good.
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I know Heather, and I know from her upbringing in the border county of Monaghan she is acutely aware of the subtleties of successfully and effectively navigating the cultural intricacies that exist between different communities who each have a common goal – peace. We all want to live in a peaceful world and while some will continually insist on talking, Heather’s first instinct is to listen.

IMPORTANT
Ireland is a small country geographically, but we are an important part of Europe, we are stronger when we stand with our friends against the threats posed by wars and unexpected international shocks or disturbances like Brexit and the Covid pandemic for example.

Heather Humphreys has proven her mettle by standing up for Ireland’s businesses during Brexit and has represented Ireland abroad on countless occasions, leading over a dozen international trade missions to the US, the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, China, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan. Throughout her career, Heather has worked hard to build relationships and enhance Ireland’s reputation abroad.

I trust her to continue to do that as President and indeed when we visited Kilkenny design centre recently, she outlined how she always brought beautifully produced and designed Irish gifts to those she visited to highlight all that is unique and wonderful about Ireland and if elected president this is something she will insist on doing when hosting or indeed travelling on behalf of Ireland and its citizens.

While I know the role of President is above politics, as a rural TD representing Carlow-Kilkenny it’s important for me to point out that during Heather’s time as Minister for Rural and Community Development, she supported rural communities right across the country investing in facilities and organisations.

Heather Humphreys loves this country and its people, she is a person I trust to represent me at home and abroad.

As a TD who cares about everyone living in Carlow-Kilkenny, I believe the people of this constituency deserve a President with integrity and experience, who listens to understand and who works to make the land we share — from townsland, to parish, to county, to province — better for everyone. Heather is putting herself before the people as a centre ground, common sense, pro-European candidate and she has my number 1.

I’d like to finish with a quote from Seamus Heaney: “Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what’s said and what’s done.”

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