Minister Roderic O’Gorman announced as new Green Party leader
Today, the Green Party announced Minister Roderic O’Gorman as their new leader at a party gathering in Bewley’s Café, Grafton Street. 1896 members cast votes between 4th and 7th of July, with Minister O’Gorman earning a majority with 984, or 52%. The party takes a grassroots approach to the choice of leader. Each member has one vote, regardless of their position.
During the campaign, the two candidates emphasised environmental stewardship, social justice and community engagement as the cornerstones of the party’s mission. Each leadership contender presented their vision and strengths to members at in-person and online hustings events, seeking to continue building on the party’s growth and influence in shaping national policies.
New party leader Minister O’Gorman said:
“I am honoured to have been elected as Leader of the Green Party. I want to thank members for their support and for their participation in this election, and thank Pippa for bringing key issues to the fore. We are absolutely the stronger for having had this election. I know she cares as deeply about the Party as I do, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with her.
“Over the last four years, the Green Party has done exactly what we said we would – we have delivered. On ambitions in climate and the environment, protecting nature, in supporting children and families, backing the arts and culture. We can be proud of our party’s record for people in all parts of Ireland.
“We now need to demonstrate to everyone that Green Party policies are focused on the challenges of today every bit as much as those of tomorrow. Our solutions - on climate, transport, housing, support for families – benefit everyone on this island. That job starts today.”
Minister Pippa Hackett said:
“Well, I gave it a good shot! I want to thank sincerely every Green Party member who voted for me, as well as the amazing team of people who helped me during the leadership campaign. I’m humbled by the many messages of support I have received over the past few weeks from people inside and outside the Party. I want to wish Roderic and his leadership team the very best, and I look forward to working alongside him for the remainder of this term in Government and into the future, as we get on with the vital work of delivering a fairer society that places the protection of our natural world at the heart of everything we do.”
Minister O’Gorman becomes the fourth leader of the Green Party. Founded over 40 years ago in 198, it was not until 2001 when the Party chose TD for Dublin North Trevor Sargent as its first leader. In the 23 years since, the Party has seen only two other leaders - John Gormley TD and Eamon Ryan TD.
Minister O’Gorman sits at cabinet as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. With strong roots in the Party, his first engagement with politics came at age 10 when he canvassed for Trevor Sargent. As a child passionate about wildlife, he has said that ‘he joined the party for the nature and stayed for the social justice.’ Minster O’Gorman previously served as Cathaoirleach of the Green Party and as Chair of the Young Greens. A former law lecturer in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, he was first elected as a councillor for Castleknock in 2019. He was elected as a TD for Dublin West in 2020.
