THE RACE IS underway!
Children and Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman was the first candidate to declare he is running for Green Party leader, announcing his bid on X (formerly Twitter) earlier today.
Senator Pippa Hackett announced she is in the running this afternoon.
Some party members have come forward to endorse Hackett already showing that the backroom wranglings are well underway.
Here are the main points so far:
Reporting from Christina Finn, Cormac Fitzgerald, Órla Ryan and Diarmuid Pepper .
While no one has declared they actually want the top job yet, one name is being put forward this morning and that’s Offaly Senator Pippa Hackett.
Hackett is Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity in the Department of Agriculture. Two leading party members have already backed her to become the new leader of the party.
Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth, announced he was supporting Hackett on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“I think that she is the person to lead the party,” Smyth said, stating that it was important that the party elected a leader from outside of Dublin.
Smyth also said he supported the idea of a Green “reset”, and said it was important that the party broadened its appeal to rural voters. Hackett runs a mixed organic farm at her home in Offaly.
He also said he wanted the job of deputy leader.
Senator Pauline O’Reilly also endorsed Hackett this morning. Speaking to Virgin Media’s Ireland AM show, O’Reilly also said it was important for the party to broaden its appeal outside Dublin, and that Hackett was the person to do that.
So how does it all work?
Each party has different rules around how they manage leadership contests.
Unlike other parties (like Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, for example), anyone who is a paid up member of the Greens can be elected leader, all members of the party can vote, and their votes get equal share.
This means, in theory at least, that the next party leader doesn’t have to be a minister or a TD, but in practice it his highly likely that they will be. Pippa Hackett is not a sitting TD, but she is a minister of state and has a high-profile.
The Green Party constitution states that if a party leaders resigns, an election will be called by the Executive Committee, and the result will be announced when the ballot is completed.
Whoever is elected as leader will then serve until after the next general election, when Green Party rules state that another leadership election must be held within six months.
That last point from the Green Party constitution is worth noting.
So, no matter who wins the contest to become Green Party leader, there will have to be another contest next year (or, possibly later this year) no matter what happens.
If you’ll permit me to engage in idle speculation for a moment (what else is political reporting but idle speculation, says you), any would-be leaders may not want to take the job so close to a general election.
The Greens have just come out of a bruising local and European election campaign. The party lost 26 seats in the locals, and both their sitting MEPs failed to be re-elected.
While Eamon Ryan said the party had avoided a “wipeout”, it’s clear that their popularity is down on 2019/20. This could mean further losses in the general election, with the party likely to struggle to hold many of its seats, especially outside its Dublin heartland.
So, might any prospective leaders be thinking of holding back? Let someone else take the top job, bear the brunt of the election losses, and then swoop in after to rebuild the party?
Or maybe I’m too cynically minded, could politicians be so calculated? Surely not.
I’m announcing my candidacy for leadership of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas.
— Roderic O’Gorman TD (@rodericogorman) June 19, 2024
I am running for leader, after 24 years of Green Party membership, to build a party that can win across this country, and deliver on our ambitions.
I'm asking for your support at:… pic.twitter.com/qSWcTxFGVB
Children and Integration minister Roderic O’Gorman has announced he is running for the top job.
“I’m announcing my candidacy for leadership of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas,” O’Gorman posted on X.
I am running for leader, after 24 years of Green Party membership, to build a party that can win across this country, and deliver on our ambitions.
In his recorded video speech announcing his candidacy, O’Gorman said that Ryan stepping down was “an important change for us all”.
“I’m so grateful for his vision as leader and his inexhaustible determination to put that vision into action,” he said.
“I’ve been active in this party for a long time. A member for 24 years, I’ve served eight years as party chair and fought in 10 elections.”
He said he had a strong belief that it was important to have a Green Party in Ireland in order to put the environment at the centre of public and political life, and that the party must deliver change “across all of the issues that are important to people”.
the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth highlighted his successes in Government in the areas of childcare, parental leave and the gender pay gap. He also said he led the effort in responding to Ukrainian refugees.
He said that while Ireland faced domestic and global challenges, he believed the country could tackle them.
“With the right politics, with experience and hard work, we can do this. The Green Party is up for this challenge and so am I.
“As we look to our party’s future, this is the message I want to put to voters. We are true to our values, we are serious about delivery, and we will act now for everyone who shares this island.
In his recorded video speech announcing his candidacy, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman highlighted his experience in Government and vision for the future.
He said Ryan stepping down was “an important moment of change for us all”.
O’Gorman said he was seeking the party’s nomination to become a candiate. Under party rules, a candidate must be nominated before they can run.
O’Gorman highlighted the fact that he had been a Green Party members fo 24 years and had contested 10 elections.
He said his strong beliefs were that the country needed a “strong Green Party” to ensure the environment stayed at the forefront of political discussion, and that the party also needed to focus on addressing all of Irish society’s most pressing issues.
“I’ve halved the cost of childcare, increased paid leave for parents, tackled the gender pay gap, introduced world leading domestic violence leave and led the humanitarian effort in responding to Ukrainian refugees,” he said.
He said he was aware of the challenges the country faced, and that believed Ireland could meet those challenges.
While he briefly touched on the Ukrainian refugee situation, O’Gorman didn’t mention was is likely the defining issue of his time as a minister – the ongoing International Protection crisis.
O’Gorman’s for ministership has been a baptism of fire. His newly formed department absorbed the responsibilities for the management of Direct Provision, which had previously been under the control of the Department of Justice.
O’Gorman took over the managing of asylum seeker accommodation with the express plan of ending the system. He even published a white paper in late 2020 committing to ending Direct Provision by the end of 2024.
But the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and a sharp rise in the number of people coming to Ireland seeking International Protection has led to the Government developing a harder line with asylum seekers.
Male asylum seekers have been told there is no accommodation for them, with over 2,000 currently homeless. Makeshift encampments set up in Dublin City are frequently destroyed by the Government. Benefits have also been cut.
Meanwhile, many buildings earmarked for use by asylum seekers are frequently the subject of protests by locals and outsiders and arson attacks, as the far-right and anti-immigration campaigners attempt to use the crisis as a wedge issue.
Immigration has become one of the central issues the Government is dealing with, and at the end of the day management of the crisis falls to O’Gorman. Because of this, the minister’s profile has skyrocketed, but perhaps not for the right reasons.
However, there is some sympathy for O’Gorman for the fact that he is being landed with problems that essentially apply to the whole of Government, concerning as they do Housing, Health, Social Protection and other departments.
Whether he remains popular enough to lead the Greens remains to be seen.
Battle lines are being well and truly drawn now.
According to RTÉ’s Paul Cunningham, Minister for State Malcolm Noonan and deputies Patrick Costello and Marc Ó Cathasaigh have backed Roderic O’Gorman to be the next leader.
Meanwhile, Limerick TD Brian Leddin said he supports Pippa Hackett. Ossian Smyth and Senator Pauline O”Reilly have both announced they’re backing Hackett.
Hackett has yet to announce her candidacy, but you have to imagine she will very soon. Whether anyone else will throw their hat in the ring remains to be seen.
Here’s what high-profile councillor Michael Pidgeon has to say about it. He’s backing O’Gorman.
There is nobody I would trust more than Rod to lead our party.
— Michael Pidgeon (@Pidge) June 19, 2024
He's got principles, decency, and experience - and a work ethic that can't be matched.
He has 100% got my vote for leader. https://t.co/qKMRNI0Fyw
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage & Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan has thrown his support behind Roderic O’Gorman.
Noonan notes that he has “worked closely with O’Gorman for all of my political career” and remarks that O’Gorman’s “experience, dedication, strategic vision and work ethic is what we need to lead our party”.
Eamon Ryan yesterday in announcing his resignation said he had been the subject of “a relentless attack, particularly on social media.”
However, Ryan this morning told Today with Claire Byrne that comments sections of social media “are not mirrored in the real world” and that “most politics is done in a respectful way”.
Ryanair yesterday posted several messages to social media platform X targeting the outgoing Green Party leader.
Eamon Ryan told Today with Claire Byrne that he has “never made a personal comment about Michael O’Leary or Ryanair”.
Ryan added: “I think it doesn’t reflect well on them.”
He also remarked that while he would lose sleep over small comments at the beginning of his political career, such comments generally don’t cause him upset now.
“When I ran for the Seanad in 1997, I remember about page 90 of some newspaper, there was one tiny comment about me, and I hardly slept for a week after it because I thought it was unfair.
“Thirty years later, it doesn’t really upset me. Sometimes, it gets very personal or is about your family, and then you’d be really upset, but in general it doesn’t.”
Green Party Councillor in Dublin City Council Michael Pidgeon says he is “strongly backing Roderic O’Gorman.
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne, Pidegeon said he “really respects and admires the man, he tackles all the real problems, and he just keeps going”.
He notes that Ryan has been leader for 13 years, and that he “was probably done and needs more time with his family”.
“I’m glad we have a bit of time now to get this sorted before the General Election,” adds Pidgeon.
“He’s faced threats and huge pressure and he just keeps going,” said Pidgeon, “so I admire his strength and character, and I think he’d be absolutely the right person to do it.”
Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1′s Today with Claire Byrne, Pidgeon was asked if Pippa Hackett would help the Green Party to gain votes outside of Dublin.
Pidgeon points to O’Gorman’s work in Blanchardstown.
“Yes, it’s in Dublin,” said Pidgeon, “but it’s an area that wouldn’t have natural Green support.
“He built that over the years, just by knocking on doors constantly and building up a reputation as someone who works hard and works well.
“In rural Ireland, we’re going to do a lot more listening, but in terms of what the party needs, it’s people who know how to build votes and win trust in areas where we haven’t enjoyed it naturally.”
He also remarked the struggles with rural areas is an issue that impacts a lot of Green parties throughout Europe and adds Eamon Ryan “has delivered a lot for rural Ireland, particularly with bus services and local links”.
But he adds that “it just reached the point where people weren’t listening”.
Eamon Ryan says he will be neutral in leadership race
Speaking on Today with Claire Byrne, Eamon Ryan said he will be “completely and utterly neutral” regarding who should replace him as leader, as well as to who should stand in Dublin Bay South where he is TD.
“We have a tradition in our party, where if you are a leader, you don’t intervene in elections,” said Ryan.
He added that his position as environment and climate minister would depend on the new leader.
Hi, it’s Órla Ryan here, taking over from my colleague Diarmuid. Thanks for staying with us so far today.
Also in his interview with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1, Eamon Ryan said he made his decision to step down some time ago, not as a result of the Green Party’s losses in the recent elections.
The party lost half their council seats (going from 44 to 23) and both of their MEPs – Grace O’Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe – in this month’s local and European elections.
Ryan said he is happy “to fulfil whatever role that the new leader assigns me”.
He said he will continue his work as Minister for Climate, Environment, Communications and Transport in the coming weeks and is “going to continue working right to the end”.
“I’m flat out today now in a whole series of meetings. So for me, the work won’t stop…
“For the next three weeks, I’ll be running the two departments, and then be it will up to the leader after that, in discussion with the coalition colleagues, what [role I will have].”
As you’d expect, Ryan is doing the media rounds today and also appeared on Newstalk.
He spoke to Pat Kenny about his legacy and the ongoing need to address the climate crisis.
'We have started to transform this country' @PatKennyNT asks the outgoing Green Party leader Eamon Ryan about what he feels his legacy will be. pic.twitter.com/alzhzX80Fk
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) June 19, 2024
“We are in an ecological crisis, like, the world is burning in front of our eyes, particularly the last year, what’s happened with the jump in global average temperatures, the much more intense weather systems that we’re seeing, and the destruction of nature, the loss of biodiversity.”
Ryan said he has been passionate about the environment since he did an ecology course in school at 16, adding that this inspired him to get involved in politics.
“We have to do something here to avoid this destruction of our own safety, our own living systems.”
He said the coalition government has “particularly [in] the last four years… started to transform the country”.
“We are going in a greener direction, towards renewable energy, towards public transport, safer streets, towards a better type of farming that’s more sustainable. And I think that change will not be reversed now. It is a historic shift that will not turn around.”
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1′s News at One, Minister Roderic O’Gorman – the only person to have officially thrown his hat into the ring in the GP leadership contest so far – praised Eamon Ryan as “a progressive voice in Irish politics” who has achieved “a huge amount” over the years.
“I think it’s important that our next party leader build on that policy legacy and build the party as well,” O’Gorman said.
“I have the right experience and the right vision to do that. I think the experience from 24 years as a member of this party, I’ve contested 10 elections, in good times, in some really difficult times as well.
“I also have the experience of being a Cabinet minister for the last four years, progressing some major pieces of legislation, major pieces of policy through government. And I believe what we need to do now as a party is to broaden our policy appeal.
“We’ve made amazing achievements in the area of climate, but we’ve never been a single issue party, and we need to be bringing forward policies that have significant improvements in people’s lives.”
After some of his colleagues said a leader based outside Dublin would be preferable, O’Gorman said he believes he can appeal to both urban and rural voters.
Senator Pippa Hackett, seen by some GP members as more appealing to rural voters, is expected to announce her intention to contest the leadership race later today.
Hackett represents Laois-Offaly and is the Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Speaking on the News at One, O’Gorman said a leadership content will be good for the party, adding that there are “no coronations” in the Green Party.
I’ll hand you back to my colleague Cormac Fitzgerald now. Stay with us for all the latest updates this afternoon.
What would make a Hackett leadership interesting is that she is not a sitting TD, and she will certainly have a battle on her hands should she choose to run.
Despite a strong Green showing last time around, Hackett ran in the then 5-seater Laois-Offaly constituency but did not secure a seat, coming sixth.
She secured re-nomination to the Seanad, however, and was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity.
Hackett lives in Offaly and is a mixed organic farmer, with a suckler herd, where much of her appeal in the Greens come from. She is seen as a defence against the claims that the Greens are too urban focused and don’t consider rural dwellers (especially farmers).
However, back Hackett on this basis is a risky game, as she is by no means a shoo-in for the next election.
Hackett will be running in the new 3-seater constituency of Offaly, with the reduced number of seats proving a harder sell. A by-election is set to be held in that constituency after sitting TD Barry Cowen was elected an MEP last week.
Will Hackett stand? There’s a good chance we won’t get to a by-election, however, with a chance of a general election in the autumn. Will Hackett be popular enough locally to weather a possible storm for the Greens in rural Ireland?
If she doesn’t get elected, there’s a good chance she won’t be back as a senator, which will put the party in an awkward position. No doubt these are sone of the things that will be on the members’ minds when they’re choosing their new leader.
(not that any sitting TD is necessarily safe either)
As our Deputy Leader, Catherine Martin's incredible hard work and energy played a pivotal role in bringing the party back to where we are today.
— Green Party Ireland (@greenparty_ie) June 19, 2024
After 13 years, she will step back, while continuing her ground-breaking work as a TD and Minister.
Thank you @cathmartingreen! pic.twitter.com/VDpj9n25MJ
The Greens paying tribute to outgoing Deputy Leader Catherine Martin. If Ryan’s sudden departure came a surprise, Martin’s certainly did too.
It was only four years ago that she was challenging Ryan for the top spot, and narrowly missing out by just over 40 votes. Four years later and she doesn’t want the job at all.
Martin confirmed that she would be standing in the next election, however.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has been the most high-profile Green TD apart from Eamon Ryan.
Her ministership has been mixed. She has overseen some highly progressive initiatives in the Arts, for example, increasing funding and starting a Basic Income pilot scheme for artists.
However, despite holding a whole host of portfolios, what has dominated Martin’s attention over the past year is the ongoing RTÉ financial scandal. The scandal, dealing with financial mismanagement at the national broadcaster, has rumbled on for months, and seen a number of high profile departures.
Martin was at the centre of the story herself back in February, following the resignation of RTÉ chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh after the minister declined to express confidence in her.
Martin came under strong criticism and calls to resign as a result, but she weathered the storm and appeared before an Oireachtas Committee to defend herself.
Political Editor Christina Finn taking over the liveblog.
Senator and Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett is expected to announce her intention to contest the leadership race shortly.
Roderic O’Gorman, who has already said he is running for the top job, has told Newstalk that he believes he has the experience needed to lead the party.
O’Gorman says it would be simplistic to say that the party electing a rural leader would mean the problem the party has is solved.
He says he has experience at Cabinet, negotiating budgets, and dealing with the high hitters in government, which he feels makes him best placed to lead the Green Party.
O’Gorman says the party needs to broaden out the topics that the Greens speak on, so not just the green initiatives. He says he has experience doing that with the likes of childcare and immigration in his brief.
Asked about yet more focus coming on him now with him stating he wants the leadership, the minister says he will always take the steps he has to protect himself and his family.
Pippa Hackett announces that she is putting her name in the ring to become the next leader.
She says her different perspective and life experience can make the green party relatable. She is not from Dublin and is a woman, which she says adds to her candidacy in her view.
Green Party policies have to be easy and affordable, she says people should not be afraid of their policies. She wants to work hard to regain that trust again.
We need to learn from what works and what doesn’t work, says Hackett.
O’Gorman has massive experience, but she believes her different life experiences means she will make the best leader.
She said she knows where the Greens need to go, acknowledging that the party is struggling across the country
“There is no safe seat outside of Dublin,” she says.
“I am in that mix as much as any of them,” she adds.
Hackett said there needs to be a re-focus for the party outside the capital.
“We have to relevant to people right across Ireland not just in Dublin,” said the Minister of State.
Hackett says she can bring the part in a “fresh new direction”.
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