No reshuffle as Roderic O’Gorman elected as new Green Party leader

Mr O’Gorman took home 984 votes, compared to Ms Hackett’s 912.

He said he was “deeply humbled and deeply grateful” and paid tribute to former leader Eamon Ryan and deputy leader Catherine Martin, who he said had “guided our party back from its lowest point in 2011”.

“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.”

Mr O’Gorman, a TD for Dublin West, has become the fourth leader of the Green Party, after Mr Ryan, John Gormley and Trevor Sargent.

Meanwhile, junior Green Party minister Ossian Smyth has pulled out of the race to be deputy leader of the party.

Mr Smyth said that he made his decision following Roderic O’Gorman’s election as leader, saying that the deputy leader should be a woman.

“I want to wish Roderic the very best as he starts into his new leadership of the party. Given that our new leader is male, I think that it is best that the deputy leader is female. My stepping away from the contest at this stage will ensure this,” he said.

No reshuffle of existing Green Party ministers

Speaking after his election, Mr O’Gorman said he would not carry out a reshuffle of existing Green Party ministers, leaving Mr Ryan, Catherine Martin and Pippa Hackett in place at the Cabinet table.

“I’m extremely confident in the expertise in the knowledge and the ability of our Cabinet ministers and our junior ministers,” Mr O’Gorman said.

He rejected any assertion that the party was divided, following a tight vote in the leadership contest which saw him receive 52% of the vote compared to Ms Hackett’s 48%.

“No, I don’t believe the Green Party is divided. I believe we’ve had a really strong, really vigorous campaign where we explored the opportunities for the party, but also the real challenges that exist,” Mr O’Gorman said, highlighting the strength of Ms Hackett’s campaign.

He said that the Green Party would now unite and focus on the delivery of the programme for government, ahead of the next general election.

In particular, Mr O’Gorman said he wanted to see the Hate Speech Bill pass into law, highlighting the strong cross-party support it received when it went through the Dáil.

The new leader said he would “never be afraid” to call out opposition TDs who spread misleading and incorrect information.

“Too often, when we hear debates in Dáil Éireann — particularly debates on the issues of migration — the degree of just stuff being made up is deeply, deeply frustrating,” Mr O’Gorman said.

On alliances with other like-minded parties, Mr O’Gorman said this would not be done in advance of a general election, but would come about afterwards in government formation negotiations.

Mr O’Gorman wants to speak with progressive left parties, like Labour and the Social Democrats, saying that cooperation could lead to an “even stronger programme for government”.

However, Mr O’Gorman said he would not speak to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael first.

“I think we’ve achieved a lot in the last four years within this Government. There’s been a good working arrangement based on a very clear programme for government,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“But ultimately for Greens what we’re most interested in is the programme, is the policies contained within there.

“If we can get more Green Party policies, progressive policies in a programme for government, we’ll always work to achieve that.”