Lucia O’Farrell has been been critical of the former minister’s level of support for her campaign for justice for her late son Shane.

Heather Humphreys also said she was not being ‘nasty’ in how she asked Catherine Connolly to answer questions.

The Fine Gael candidate said the image had been taken down.

Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has defended her record in Cabinet during a televised debate.

“Maybe I was a bit burnt out, but I’m feeling good now,” Fine Gael’s presidential election candidate said at the Ploughing on Tuesday.

Taoiseach Simon Harris made the appointment after the 64-year-old’s shock decision to step down from the role and not stand in the general election.

The Fine Gael deputy leader is the latest senior figure in the party to step away from front line politics.