Roderic O’Gorman, the Minister for Integration, has been chosen to lead the Green Party.
At a press conference held at Bewley’s café shortly after 11 a.m., the Green Party officially announced the decision. According to departing leader Eamon Ryan, the occasion is about “handing the torch to a new leader,” reports RTE.
1,896 members of the Party cast ballots out of a total electorate of 3,425 members.
Senator and Minister of State Pippa Hackett earned 912 votes, or 48.2%, while Minister O’Gorman received 984 votes, or 51.8%.
Mr. O’Gorman will take Mr. Ryan’s post immediately. He will also join Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin in tonight’s weekly pre-cabinet meeting of Coalition leaders, reports RTE.
Despite his narrow victory in the leadership contest, he dismissed allegations that his party is split, pointing out that there have been other “tight” elections in the past.
“I won’t be proposing a Cabinet reshuffle of ministers or ministers of state,” he responded when asked whether he planned to seek a reshuffle of the Cabinet or make any changes to the ministerial ranks, reports RTE.
Later, the newly appointed leader of the Green Party was questioned on what changes, if any, would come from Mr. Ryan’s term, since there won’t be a Cabinet overhaul.
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Minister O’Gorman responded by joking that it was “obviously a younger approach” and then clarified that it was “not a change but the next step forward”, reports RTE.
She praised Mr. Ryan to a standing ovation from the party members, claiming he had brought the Green Party back “from the wilderness”.
In addition to stating that he will “work hard with Government and opposition to do what is right,” Minister O’Gorman expressed his humility at being appointed and expressed his desire to see “the Government go its full term,” reports RTE.
He listed several policy priorities, such as making sure the budget for this autumn is well-considered and “not a giveaway” and that the Green Party cannot “retreat into a comfort zone and hope the votes come to us”.
Additionally, Minister O’Gorman expressed her gratitude to Senator Hackett, who declared during her address that the campaign was “respectful” and assured him that “I will be here for you.”
Although “politics is tough,” Senator Hackett told the audience, “I believe in a Green Party that strives to be relevant in people’s everyday lives,” reports RTE.
A reorganisation of the Green Party’s ministers is a possibility given the new leader, but it is not a given, according to party insiders.
Catherine Martin, the Minister for Media, has expressed her intention to continue in her position until the process of selecting a financing structure for public service media is finished.
Ryan has further indicated that he intends to continue serving as the Minister of Climate Change and Transportation, reports RTE.
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