O’Gorman re-elected as Green Party leader

Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman TD and Green Party Chairperson Cllr Janet Horner

I am hugely honoured that the members of the Green Party have expressed their confidence in me to continue as leader of our Party.

I also want to congratulate Cllr Janet Horner on being elected as Cathaoirleach of the Green Party. Janet is a proven election winner and a leader in her community in the north city centre. The role of Cathaoirleach is an absolutely vital one, and I look forward to working with her in rebuilding Green Party representation, all over the country. 

Our Party had a difficult election last year, there’s no question about that. Like many Green Parties in coalitions across Europe, our vote declined after a period in Government. Green policies have come under attack from the far right, and established parties of government feel less compelled to take those necessary steps on climate in the interests of all our people.

But we will not be deterred. We continue to be an essential voice in Irish politics; for climate action, for helping families and for equality across our entire society.

Every day, we see what the absence of a strong progressive voice, what the absence of a strong Green Party influence in government, means.

Workers rights to sick leave diminished, delays to the implementation of the living wage, commitments to public childcare watered down, fracked liquified natural gas welcomed as part of our energy mix, the axing of Coillte’s nature restoration body, the tenant in situ scheme defunded, a walking away from the expansion of family leaves.

These are Green Party policies, some environmental, many beyond that, that we advanced over the last 4 and a half years in Government, and which the new Government are only delighted to throw overboard. 

But the people of Ireland can bank on it that the Green Party will do all in our power to hold the Government to account on this. Because while many talk the talk on climate action, only the Green Party has the proven track record of delivery. 

I look forward to working with the support of all our Party members as we continue this vital rebuilding work.