Junior Minister Michael Healy Rae has announced that he will give conservative candidate Maria Steen his backing to run in the presidential election, but he was clear to add that he would still like to see Heather Humphreys take Michael D. Higgins’ place in the Áras later this year.
Signing the papers for Maria Steen this morning, Michael Healy Rae stressed that his support still lies firmly with Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys.
"Signing a nomination paper is not a signal of electoral support; it is simply ensuring that the people of Ireland are given a fair and full choice when they go to the polls," he stressed.
In a statement today, the Kerry TD, and junior minister in the Department of Agriculture, said he has decided to sign Steen’s nomination papers in a spirit of "fairness and respect," adding that democracy is about giving people the chance to decide.
"But I’m clear on who I would like to see as the next President of Ireland."
In a statement on social media on Friday, Healy-Rae went on to reiterate: "I want to be absolutely clear: my support in this election is firmly with Heather Humphreys. I believe she is the right person to be the next President of Ireland, and I am 100% backing her campaign."
He continued: "Signing a nomination paper is not a signal of electoral support; it is simply ensuring that the people of Ireland are given a fair and full choice when they go to the polls. That is the foundation of democracy, and it is something I will always stand by."
Democracy is about giving people the chance to decide. But I’m clear on who I would like to see as the next President of Ireland.
See my full statement here 👇 pic.twitter.com/VGQmrWwoYG
— Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) September 19, 2025
Announcing her candidacy last week, Maria Steen said she had already had the backing of 10 members of the Oireachtas, but to be eligible to run, she needs the support of 20 TDs or Senators.
Last week, several Oireachtas members publicly declared their support for Maria Steen, including Peadar Tóibín, Mattie McGrath, Joe Conway, Paul Lawless, Ronan Mullins, Carol Nolan, Sharon Keogan, and Sarah O’Reilly.
Maria Steen is a barrister and also an architect, but rose to prominence during the same sex marriage referendum back in 2015, which she campaigned against, while in 2018, she again made her views publicly known when she campaigned against liberalising abortion laws.
She is also well known as a member of the Catholic organisation, the Iona Institute.
However, despite receiving the backing of Michael Healy Rae today, she is still some way off securing the support of the 20 Oireachtas members she needs to contest the election and a chance at making it all the way to Áras an Uachtaráin.
This afternoon, Maria Steen will meet with Wexford County Council to make her pitch, hoping to secure their support.
Maria Steen. (RollingNews.ie)
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin said it is planning to reveal who the party will back for the presidency and promises it will be a "game changer."
The party’s executive will meet on Saturday to debate whether to propose their own candidate or throw their weight behind Independent Catherine Connolly.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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