Winning Dáil seat an 'uphill battle', admits Greens leadership hopeful Hackett
Pippa Hackett said it is an 'uphill battle for every Green Party TD'. Picture: Conor Ó Mearáin/Collins
Pippa Hackett has admitted that it will be an “uphill battle” to win a seat at the next general election, as voting in the Green Party leadership contest begins.
The Offaly senator has spoken about her own chances at the upcoming election, while also hitting back at the assertion that she would not be able to lead the Greens effectively from the Seanad.
In an interview with the , Ms Hackett said that she, alongside many Green Party candidates, will be in a difficult spot at the next general election.
“At the moment in time, it’s an uphill battle for every Green Party TD, so to be honest the vast majority of us are all in the same boat,” Ms Hackett said.
In the last general election, Ms Hackett failed to take a seat in the Laois-Offaly constituency, being eliminated on the 11th count.
Scroll for results in your area
The prospective Green Party leader would face a bigger challenge next time, with a three-seater Offaly constituency likely to be much tougher on smaller party candidates.
Despite this, Ms Hackett said that her challenge in gaining a seat in the next election is not a barrier “at all” to being leader of the Green Party.
She rejected commentary from her leadership rival Roderic O’Gorman that the last time a party was led from the Seanad it did not work out.
“On a practical basis, I’m in the Dáil as often as any other minister. I have a role there to play,” said Ms Hackett, explaining that she engages with parliamentary questions and has shepherded through several pieces of legislation.
She cited her role as a super-junior minister in the Department of Agriculture, which she says is a “tough enough” department.
“I think that has stood to me. I really have no doubt about, whether I’m in the Seanad or the Dáil, that making a difference,” Ms Hackett said.
Asked if she would reshuffle the Green Party cabinet positions, Ms Hackett said that while she is thinking about it, she hadn’t made any decisions.
“I don’t think we need to be reshuffling massively or anything like that,” Ms Hackett said, adding that she would consider it over the coming days.
The new Green Party leader will be confirmed on Monday, July 8.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
