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THE NEW LEADER of the Green Party will be announced on 8 July.
The party confirmed the date following a meeting of its executive committee this evening, after Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Junior Minister and Senator Pippa Hackett both announced their bids to replace outgoing party leader Eamon Ryan today.
Nominations for the leadership contest can be submitted from 9am tomorrow until 9pm on Monday, 24 June. The names of those seeking to become leader will be made public the following morning.
Candidates need to be a full member of the party and will need to receive 50 nominations from other party members.
Hackett was the first to receive the backing of party colleagues this morning, when Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement Ossian Smyth and Senator Pauline O’Reilly announced they would be supporting her bid.
However, O’Gorman was the first to announce that he was running for the top job. In a video shared on social media, he said he wanted “to build a party that can win across this country, and deliver on our ambitions”.
Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan said that he was backing O’Gorman, and welcomed a debate around the party’s communications.
Hackett later confirmed to Newstalk that she was entering the leadership race. “I think Eamon’s departure yesterday does give us an opportunity in the party for a fresh start. I believe a fresh start is needed. I believe I can be that fresh start,” she said.
She said her different perspective and life experience could make the Green Party relatable.
The party’s deputy leader Catherine Martin also announced on Tuesday she would “step back” from her role and confirmed that she was not putting herself forward for the leadership contest.
The Green Party suffered a poor performance at the local and European elections earlier this month, which saw the Greens lose both of their MEP seats.
The party said that information about the deputy leadership election, the hustings and voting will be sent to members in the coming days.
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I wonder if Woderic realises how deeply unpopular he is, or does he care?
@Brian Hunt: He doesn’t seem to care about the 30 odd missing children in the state under his minstership.
@deadslys: yes he’s a me feiner for sure. Went power mad and threw away his integrity totally he’d I thought have been miles better than Mcentee has been in justice. She epitomises the me feiner minister, shouldn’t even have been elected
@Brian Hunt: why would he once he gets a seat on the gravy train,do the journey get the pay package and expenses. Then head off into the sunset regardless of consequences of decisions,no accountability as usual.
Race on, to the get top job, then jack it in, and avail of a nice early pension packet. Is there any real politicians out there any more ?
@Denis Hourihane: Agree they should have legal contracts to stay for the duration. This government now has so many minster pensions to pay. It must be a record.
@did you every wonder: Pensions only payable at standard retirement age, 65.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Ministers get their ministerial pension after 2 years service.
@Denis Hourihane: unless the GP pays pensions, he doesn’t get one from the State for being a Minister unless he’s served at least 2 years. And right now we’re only a matter of months from a GE.
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: disgraced TDs and ministers and other public officials even who partook in unethical behaviour have walked away with insulting pensions – just see Noirin o Sullivan and she was rewarded with a totally undeserving new role for her criminality
@John Moylan: there should be a GE called immediately. this country is an absolute kip.
Green party heading the same way as the Progressive Democrats. Serves them right for getting into bed with FF and FG
A Nation Holds Its Breath.
Hackett needs to win surely if the greens are to have any chance of winning the rural vote otherwise the party will be left with just a few seats in Dublin.
@Willie Marty: what person in rural Ireland would vote for ger ash die back disaster fund failure organics but no where to sell it forestry completely gone yes she would be good lol
@John Reynolds: I mean this with every fibre of my being……. WHAT?
@John Reynolds: what sort of rural voter would vote for a celebrity jockey Blueshirt who already didn’t show up in Brussels? Or an incumbent MEP who didn’t show up to any Eu agri meetings but posts videos banging on about farming ? Both were elected MEPS in the basket case Midlands North west constituency
Make Ireland Great Again (please)
@ron don: If you mean go back to Church Control, then no thanks.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: that was also because of a near century long compliance of a majority of the Irish people. It’s been just as damaging for people to vote the same cowards over and over in the ‘modern’ era (since it doesn’t look it a lot), instead of actually being pro active which isn’t something an awful lot of people here do that willingly.
@S Suilleabhain: The compliance of the Irish people?
You mean the people indoctrinated by the Church, and terrified of it.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: they weren’t so scary so as to warrant generations indoctrinating their children. It was cowardice.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: *their own children. It was hysteria, I don’t for one second question that this country had a disproportionately cruel experience with that materialistic and evil organisation
@Jaded Jim: unbelievable
@S Suilleabhain: You mean the people could’ve given their children an alternative education.
When the Church controlled all education.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: parents engaging in indoctrination in the modern day enables the organisation to instill fear and shame in kids through repeated contact with the organisation throughout their lives and until you try and fail to opt out they’ll even interfere up to death, so its not.only their education impacted by this cowardice.
@S Suilleabhain: What?
Can you try that in English please?
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: It is in English, cheers now.
@S Suilleabhain: The words might be English.
The sense – if any – is not.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: I forgot some brackets, so sue me
@S Suilleabhain: if they were so indoctrinated why aren’t the churches full every week. I think your exaggerating. Are you happy with the indoctrination kids are getting in schools now?
@daragh harmon: I dont argue with people who think that pride is child abuse. You’re harming children, not me.
It looks like Micky Martin’s ineptitude could start a military revolt if someone doesn’t get a handle on the gobdaw
@Darth O’Leary: the Tanaistes party is yet again the largest party in local Govt.
@Pat Hazzard: Pat, you’re the type of person that would lick your own hoal to be revalant.
Please go away with your gravy train and extra taxation that isn’t like taxation in Norway where the people get fairly rewarded with an excellent standard of living.
@S Suilleabhain: it’s fun listening to how miserable you shinners are lol
@John D Doe: It’s really fun looking at the low iq infighting between the regular journal commenters : )
@S Suilleabhain: The oil reserves pays a lot of things in Norway.
@John D Doe: you wrote that yesterday, somehow it’s me who needs to build a bridge. Ahem, if I was YOU. SF up 23 seats
@Áine G: it’s also a competently ran nation
@John D Doe: you’re the type of person who would internally mock the disabled and very poor knowing you vote for the Tories
@Áine G: You mean Norway is a nation that cares about its people, and is competent.
In the UK those same oil reserves were handed over to private corporations instead.
And will soon be gone, with no benefit accruing to the people.
Oh, for a well managed caring state.
Like Norway.
Honestly, how is this taking until the 8th of July?
Has Dustin thrown his hat into the ring ?
@JP: on behalf of Dustin the legend turkey, I’m triggered
Another waste,no end to it
A choice between a woman who hasn’t been elected by the people, who was handed a Senator role, then a Super Junior Ministry, big roles despite being unelected & then a guy who has caused massive societal division & placed a massive burden on the States services, by letting in over a 100,000 people in 2 years. His tweet welcoming Immigrants from all over the World, to come to Ireland & promising them own door accommodation within months, is currently costing the State, Billions in funding. If the State loses an appealed case by an IPA youth & the NGO backing him, it will have to pay Millions in compensation to all IPA’s & house them first. Truly, two of the worst candidates you could imagine.
It should be made dispand after doing badley in the elections
@liam mc meel: but then quite rightly the centre – centre right Irish Labour party would be obsolete now, as would only be fair after getting their ar*** handed to them following their pro austerity true colours
So many people get triggered by any article concerning the Green Party. So weak minded.
@Sun Rise: Fact .sun rise talks ball ox.
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