Green elections

Divisions over electoral alliances emerging in the Green Party. Well, to some degree :

Separately on Monday, Ms Hackett disagreed with Mr O’Gorman’s suggestion that a “progressive alliance” should be formed with Labour and the Social Democrats after the general election.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr O’Gorman said such an alliance could be used “to secure a very strong programme for government from other political parties.”

Ms Hackett responded with a post on social media platform X saying: “The Green Party is the Green Party. We are not the SDLGP [Social Democrats/Labour/Green Party].”

She added: “As leader I will work with any political party that is prepared to facilitate real environmental action.”

Meanwhile Senator Róisin Garvey has entered the race for Deputy leader. 

Not sure I’d agree with this. RTÉ had a headline last week: Hackett edges ahead of O’Gorman in race for Green leadership. But that framing is at odds with the substance which is that:

Minister of State Pippa Hackett has edged ahead of Minister Roderic O’Gorman in declarations of support from the parliamentary party in the Green Party leadership race.

Senator Róisín Garvey, who is from Co Clare, posted on social media last night that rural and regional balance were needed now, and Ms Hackett was ready, willing and able to lead the party.

Senator Garvey is the fifth member of the parliamentary party to support Minister Hackett, along with Minister of State Ossian Smyth and TDs Brian Leddin and Stephen Matthews, as well as party chair Senator Pauline O’Reilly.

Those who have declared for Minister Roderic O’Gorman include Ministers of State Malcolm Noonan and Joe O’Brien, as well as TDs Marc Ó Cathasaigh and Patrick Costello.

But the thing is that those declarations of support are not a key element given the actual electoral processes:

The outcome will be decided by the party membership, which is thought to stand at around 4,000 people.

The Green Party will announce its new leader on 8 July.

Information about the election of a deputy leader, following Minister Martin’s decision to stand down from the post, will be announced at a later date.

I’m sure many would have strong critiques of the Green Party politically and in government but can’t fault them on their leadership process. 

Though in another area they’re running into interesting, problems, or is contradictions the correct word?

The leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland has defended his decision to run in the Westminster elections only months after he became a senator in the Seanad.

Mal O’Hara, who is running in the North Belfast constituency, said there would be “no problem” in him taking the seat if he was voted in on 4 July.

The former Belfast City councillor was elected as a senator in the Republic of Ireland in April after he replaced Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile of Sinn Féin.

The newly appointed Senator says he was taken surprise by the earliness of the UK General Election, but in a way this points up issues about politics which spreads across two political jurisdictions.