Heather Humphreys talks stepping down as McEntee named new deputy Fine Gael leader [Video]

LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago

TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has praised outgoing deputy Fine Gael leader Heather Humphreys, who has announced she will not be running in the next general election. 

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has been announced as the party’s new Deputy Leader, which she described as “a great honour”. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week, Humphreys said that her decision was down to her being “not physically able to keep going for that long”, to serve another five year Dáil term. 

She said that it had been a difficult decision and when she had told the Taoiseach of her intention in late August, he had asked her to reconsider. 

Humphreys said that she had been “tired” and following the local elections in June, she put in a big effort and was “exhausted” after the campaign.

“That has never happened to me before,” she continued. “And you know that you’re always tired after any election. …