'It didn't work out well': O’Gorman aims jab at Hackett’s bid to lead Greens from Seanad

Green Party leadership candidate refers to the doomed Progressive Democrats, led in its final days from Seanad Éireann

Rivals for the leadership of the Green Party, Senator Pippa Hackett and Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman. Picture: PA

Green Party leadership hopeful Roderic O'Gorman has said the last time a political party was led from the Seanad "it didn't work out well".

Mr O'Gorman told the Irish Examiner that the fact he is a TD is “definitely” an advantage for his candidacy.

“I think the last time a party was led from the Seanad was the Progressive Democrats. I was talking to him during the week, Ciarán Cannon was the leader then. That didn’t work out well,” Mr O’Gorman said.

His comments will potentially be seen as a snipe at his leadership rival, Senator Pippa Hackett, who is a junior minister but is not elected to the Dáil.

A source close to Ms Hackett said the senator would be “well able” to lead the party from the Seanad.

“That kind of gloomy pessimistic outlook is precisely why the Green Party needs a fresh outlook, which Pippa would deliver in spades,” they said.

April 2008: Then senator Ciarán Cannon with senior Progressive Democrats members Fiona O'Malley and Mary Harney after he was elected party leader. Now a Fine Gael TD, Mr Cannon's leading the party from the Seanad was referenced by Roderic O'Gorman in an apparent swipe at Pippa Hackett. Picture: Julien Behal/PA 

The Integration Minister said that, if elected as Green Party leader, he wants to change the focus of the party and ensure it is broadened out with a priority on social issues like housing, education, and childcare.

“I think everybody knows what we’ve achieved in the areas of climate, in the area of nature restoration,” Mr O’Gorman said.

“I don’t think some of the positive steps that we advocated for in terms of women’s health, in terms of cost rental in the area of housing, and indeed in terms of the supports I’ve put in place cutting the cost of childcare for parents — I don’t think they are perhaps as associated with the Green Party as they should be.”

Asked if he would be able to work with Sinn Féin in Government, Mr O’Gorman said he is open to talking to anybody, but that the main opposition party has taken a “different path” on issues around the environment and migration.

Mr O’Gorman admitted there is “some degree of commonality” between the two parties around further investment in public services.

He criticised Sinn Féin for “speaking out of both sides of the party mouth” on the Nature Restoration Law, highlighting that then MEP Chris MacManus had voted against the proposal while then Senator Lynn Boylan issued a statement welcoming its passage through the European Parliament.

Prospects for a progressive alliance

Pressed on his recent calls for a centre-left alliance, Mr O’Gorman said he believes such a pact would only take place following a general election rather than before.

We would go into the election with our own manifesto and our own clear vision of what the Green Party wants to achieve and look to secure the largest amount of political support for that.

He believes the Greens were able to negotiate a “strong” programme for government due to their parliamentary party’s size, with 12 TDs and five senators. He said that this had not been the case in 2007, when the party first entered government.

“I think if progressive parties look to come together after a general election, agree key policy goals — many of which we already share — then look as a larger group of TDs to put that to other political parties. 

"I think, again, that can be central in shaping the agenda of a new Government.”

The Integration Minister said that progressive parties should “maximise their leverage” by working together after the next election.