Minister of State, Ossian Smyth, has announced his decision to not vie for the position of the Green Party’s deputy leader. This decision is based on the newer leadership of the Green Party being a male, Roderic O’Gorman, and the Minister’s personal preference for the deputy to be a woman. This, in turn, leaves the race open for Senator Róisín Garvey and Deputy Neasa Hourigan.
“Roderic has my best wishes as he commences his leadership role of the party. Considering the current leader’s gender, it is my belief that the deputy should be a woman. I have withdrawn in order to ascertain this,” Ossian Smyth expressed.
Smyth will carry on his performance across two departments, being responsible for the circular economy and national broadband scheme within the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, and applying green procurement within the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
The electioneering for the deputy leadership will begin this week, with online voting scheduled for the week’s end.
Roderic O’Gorman stated he did not plan to reorganise Green ministers, ensuring that previous leader Eamon Ryan and ex-deputy leader Catherine Martin would maintain their existing cabinet posts. Senator Pippa Hackett, who lost the leadership race, along with other Green junior ministers Malcolm Noonan, Joe O’Brien, and Ossian Smyth, are also set to continue in their present roles.