Roderic O'Gorman says Greens will talk to 'left parties' before Fine Gael or Fianna Fail after election
Roderic O'Gorman was elected the new leader of the Green Party, beating Super Junior Minister Pippa Hackett by just 72 votes.
New Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has stated he will talk to left-leaning parties about forming a Government before speaking to Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil.
The Integration Minister was elected the new leader of the Green Party, beating Super Junior Minister Pippa Hackett by just 72 votes.
There will be no Cabinet reshuffle on the Green Party benches, meaning Eamon Ryan will remain as Transport and Climate Minister. Minister O’Gorman will continue to serve as Integration Minister.
READ MORE: Roderic O’Gorman elected as new Green Party leader
He was elected leader of the Green Party in Bewley’s Café on Grafton Street on Monday morning earning a majority with 984. Minister Hackett received 912 votes.
Mr O’Gorman said he was “deeply humbled and deeply grateful” to be elected leader.
During the campaign, the Minister said he was open to a left alliance between the Greens, Labour and the Social Democrats after the next election.
He told reporters on Monday that he would speak to these parties following the next general election before speaking to current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
“Yes, I would speak to progressive parties initially,” he said.
“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.
“But ultimately, for Greens, what we're most interested in is the programme. [Are] the policies contained in there? If we can get more Green Party policies, progressive policies in the Programme for Government, we’ll always work to achieve that.”
Mr O’Gorman stated that he wants the Government to “work to its full term” with an election in 2025.
He stated that he wants to ensure the budget on October 1 is “not about pre-election giveaways”.
Mr O’Gorman continued: “I want to invest more in childcare, deliver more places, and make sure everyone has a childcare space when they need it. I'll shortly seek Government approval to offer to ratify the Optional Protocol on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at long last, fully vindicating the rights of people with disabilities in this country.
“I want to deliver more for parents and families, including legislation to allow women with serious illnesses to delay their maternity leave.
“I want to do more to ensure the State protects the safety of minorities within our communities by legislating to outlaw hate crimes.”
Asked how “robust” he will be with politicians in the Rural Independents, he stated that if “someone is saying something that is factually wrong, I'll never be afraid to call that out”.
He added: “Too often when we hear debates in Dáil Eireann, and particularly debates on the issues on the issues of migration, the degree of stuff being made up is deeply, deeply frustrating. I won't be afraid to call that out
“We have to deal with serious issues in our country. Migration is a serious topic that we have to engage with, there are many others. But it has to be on the basis of reality. It has to be on the basis of facts.
“It can't be on the basis of ‘this one thing I saw on Facebook one time’, which unfortunately too often is the standard of the debate we’re seeing in Dáil Eireann right now.”
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