Humphreys has 'no problem' with referendum to change nominations process
There were joyous scenes in Cootehill yesterday as presidential candidate Heather Humphreys made her second and final stop in the county at Cootehill Library.
After meeting with the Cootehill Craft Group and members of Cootehill Women’s Shed to mark UN International Day of Rural Women, Ms Humphreys, the Fine Gael candidate, addressed her views on a referendum to change how presidential candidates make it to the ballot paper.
"I have no problem, but it's irrelevant what I think really because it'll be the government who make the decision but I've no problem. If it needs to be changed and the people want it changed that's fine.
"The process was twenty Oireachtas members or four local authorities, that's the process as it stands at the minute.
"If there's going to be changes there, it'll be up to the government and there'll have to be a Referendum so if that's the case."
Asked if she accepts that there are people who are not represented by herself or fellow presidential candidate Catherine Connolly, she said: "I have come through the process and so has Catherine come through the process.
"To get on the ballot paper you have to meet the criteria and, in fairness, if you look at it - it's twenty Oireachtas members, there's an awful lot more Oireachtas members now than there was when the constitution was written so there's more people to get that twenty from.
"It is what it is."
Meanwhile, she believes the 'Spoil the Vote' campaign is "absolutely wrong".
"I totally totally disagree with it, I tell you one thing people in this country fought and they lost their lives for a vote. Women fought for the vote for many many years.
"If you have a vote use it."
Latest poll
As campaigning continues ahead of polling day on Friday, October 24, it appears Heather Humphreys has some ground to make up.
The results of the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll, published today (Thursday) shows Catherine Connolly on 38%, almost double the support indicated for Heather Humphreys on 20%. Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, who withdrew from the race last week, but is still on the ballot paper, sits at just five per cent in the poll.
The undecideds stand at 18% with little more than a week to go until polling day.
Meanwhile, it has emerged earlier today that defamation proceedings against Ms Humphreys by People Beofre Profit TD Paul Murphy have commenced.
According to reports by RTE, the proceedings relate to comments the Fine Gael presidential candidate made in relation to Mr Murphy's role in an anti-water charges protest in November 2014.