Overview

• Heather Humphreys is understood to have secured support from 42 of Fine Gael’s 59 parliamentary party members, far exceeding the 20 required to qualify for nomination.
• Under party rules, contenders must also line up at least 25 Fine Gael councillors and five Executive Council members, with the nomination window running from August 19 to September 2.
• Seán Kelly confirmed he is seeking the party nomination, but Humphreys’ tally could leave him short of the parliamentary backing needed to advance.
• Fine Gael reopened its process after Mairead McGuinness withdrew on health grounds, with the party aiming to ratify a candidate by mid-September.
• The wider race is still forming as Catherine Connolly has assembled cross-party support to make the ballot, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin weigh their moves, and the election is expected in late October.