Green Party to announce results of leadership contest

A new Green Party leader will be elected this morning following a vote among the party’s membership.

Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman and Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, are the two candidates seeking to replace outgoing leader Eamon Ryan.

Mr Ryan made the announcement last month, when he also confirmed that he will not contest the next general election.

More than 3,500 party members were eligible to vote in this election.

The voting took place online between Thursday and yesterday.

Those involved in organising the leadership campaigns have predicted that the result will be close.

The new leader will be announced in Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street at 11am.

It is expected that they will hold their first meeting with Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin later this evening.

The change of leader does raise the possibility of a reshuffle of the Green Party ministers, however this is not inevitable, sources within the party have said.

Minister for Media Catherine Martin has already spoken of her desire to stay in her role in order to complete the process of deciding on a funding model for public service media.

Mr Ryan has also expressed a willingness to stay on as Minister for Environment, Climate and Transport.