Heather Humphreys

Heather Humphreys (born 14 May 1963) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands since June 2020. She previously served as 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] She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency since 2011.

Heather Humphreys TD
Minister for Social Protection
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 June 2020
Taoiseach	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Regina Doherty (Employment Affairs and Social Protection)
Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 June 2020
Taoiseach	Micheál Martin
Preceded by	Michael Ring (Rural and Community Development)
Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation
In office 30 November 2017 – 27 June 2020
Taoiseach	Leo Varadkar
Preceded by	Frances Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Leo Varadkar (Enterprise, Trade and Employment)
Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
In office 14 June 2017 – 30 November 2017
Taoiseach	Leo Varadkar
Preceded by	New office
Succeeded by	Josepha Madigan
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
In office 6 May 2016 – 14 June 2017
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	New Office
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
In office 11 July 2014 – 6 May 2016
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	Jimmy Deenihan
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Teachta Dála
Incumbent
Assumed office February 2011
Constituency	Cavan–Monaghan
Personal details
Born	Heather Stewart (1963-05-14) 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.ie

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 and once again in 2009 local elections.[6] She was elected as Mayor of Monaghan County Council 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]

After an initial period on the backbenches, Humphreys was appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, following a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014.

Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, Humphreys was appointed to the newly created position of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.[9]

In government

Humphreys was a surprise appointment to the position of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, following a cabinet reshuffle in July 2014.[10] 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). McNulty was a Fine Gael candidate for a Seanad by-election and his appointment occurred a few days before his nomination was announced. Humphreys was accused of stroke politics and cronyism.

In her role as the Minister responsible for 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.[11]

Humphreys was appointed to the newly expanded position of Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government on 6 May 2016.[12]

On 30 November 2017, Humphreys was appointed as Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. She succeeded Frances Fitzgerald, who had resigned on 28 November.[13]

On 27 June 2020, Humphreys was appointed as Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.[14]

Animal cruelty case

In February 2020, Humphreys said that she had delivered a letter to the Department of Agriculture which reportedly included "unfounded allegations" against officials prosecuting a man in her constituency with a record of convictions for cruelty to animals. An ongoing case against the man was withdrawn ahead of the scheduled trial.[15] According to The Sunday Times, the Department of Agriculture had received the letter on 24 January and told the man's solicitor on 29 January that it would not prosecute over injured and sick animals found on his land in February 2017.[16]

In March 2020, the newspaper used records acquired under the Freedom of Information Act to report that the man's family had made "representations" to Humphreys and that a veterinary inspector participating in the prosecution asked to know who had brought the case to an end without his knowledge.[17]

In July 2020, the newspaper reported that a whistleblower had made a protected disclosure about the dropped case which showed that one official participating in the prosecution had used special legislation to tender "serious allegations" about the affair.[18] The newspaper later reported that Humphreys's letter had included "a veiled threat" to make public information which the Department of Agriculture would prefer to keep secret.[19]

References

1. Collins, Stephen (2011). Nealon's Guide to the 31st Dáil and 24th Seanad. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. p. 27. ISBN 9780717150595.
2. "Heather Humphreys". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
3. Moriarty, Gerry (8 August 2016). "Protestant drum is still beating strong in Border village". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
4. McGreevy, Ronan (21 January 2016). "My grandfather signed the Ulster Covenant, Minister says". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
5. "Self-aware Humphreys ready to do the business". Irish Examiner. 1 December 2017.
6. "Heather Humphreys". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
7. "Heather Humphreys". Election 2011. TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
8. "Profile: Heather Humphreys". Irish Independent. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
9. "Frances Fitzgerald is Tánaiste in new Cabinet". RTÉ News. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
10. "As It Happened: Cabinet reshuffle". RTÉ News. 14 July 2014.
11. "Heather Humphreys: 1916 commemorations belong to all". The Irish Times. 31 March 2015.
12. "The new cabinet". Irish Independent. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
13. "Taoiseach names Simon Coveney as new Tánaiste". RTÉ News. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
14. "CONFIRMED: Humphreys announced as Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Affairs and the islands". northernsound.ie. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
15. Mooney, John (16 February 2020). "Heather Humphreys intervened in animal cruelty case". The Sunday Times.
16. Mooney, John (23 February 2020). "Heather Humphreys 'intervened' in dropped animal cruelty case: Calls for Humphreys to tell Dail why she gave officials communication about prosecution of farmer, who had previous convictions". The Sunday Times.
17. Mooney, John (29 March 2020). "Heather Humphreys role revealed in Monaghan animal cruelty case: Decision to drop animal abuse charges against Monaghan farmer made after family approached the business minister". The Sunday Times.
18. Mooney, John (5 July 2020). "Official blows whistle on animal cruelty case dropped after Heather Humphreys letter". The Sunday Times.
19. Mooney, John (12 July 2020). "Minister Heather Humphreys 'passed on threat' to Department of Agriculture officials". The Sunday Times.

External links

• Official website
• Heather Humphreys's page on the Fine Gael website

Oireachtas
Preceded by Margaret Conlon (Fianna Fáil)	Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Cavan–Monaghan 2011–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Jimmy Deenihan	Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 2014–16	Succeeded by Office abolished
New office	Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 2016–17	Succeeded by Herself as Minister for Arts and Culture
Preceded by Herself as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs	Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jul.–Nov. 2017	Succeeded by Josepha Madigan
Preceded by Frances Fitzgerald	Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation 2017–2020	Succeeded by Leo Varadkar as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Preceded by Regina Doherty as Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection	Minister for Social Protection 2020–present	Incumbent
Preceded by Michael Ring as Minister for Rural and Community Development	Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands 2020–present