Green Party confirms Laois General Election candidate

The Green Party has confirmed the selection of Ballinakill woman Rosie Palmer to contest the upcoming General Election in Laois.

Ms Palmer, who is Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of State Pippa Hackett, is selected along with 35 candidates to contest the under the Green banner following selection conventions across the country.

The candidate contested the local elections for the Green Party in the Portlaoise Municipal District. She was unsuccessful in her bid to win a seat for the party on Laois County Council. She secured 295 first preference votes in June 2024.

Ms Palmer, who is also a Laois Local Representative for the Green Party, grew up in Ballinakill and now lives in Abbeyleix. She has studied Governance, Social Policy and Human Rights.

She says she is active in several local groups including Ballinakill Community Development Association, Portlaoise Rugby Club, Laois Pride Committee, Thornberry Residence Association, and Abbeyleix SEC.

She outlines her priorities, firstly housing. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Pictured: Rosie Palmer

"I will ensure that opportunities to bring vacant buildings back into use as homes are maximised and homeowners have easy access to grants to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient," she said.

Health is also on her agenda.

"I want to enhance access to quality, inclusive healthcare and safe, public spaces and facilities, and ensure that our air is clean and that our water and nature quality is protected," she says.

Community is another issue.

"I embrace strong community spirit and endeavour to make our communities more inclusive and vibrant spaces for people to live, work, rest and play and where our culture, built heritage and biodiversity are enhanced and protected," she says on the Green Party website.

The local elections were her first foray into politics as a candidate. She was the first ever Green to run in Portlaoise. Aged under 35 she says she grew up in a non-politcal house and did not vote until she was 24. 

Ms Palmer has a Professional Certificate in Governance from the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin. She has a Master's Degree in Social Science Social Policy and Human Rights from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth where she also studied for her BA in Social Science.

Ms Palmer is contesting for one of three Dáil seats in the General Election in the new Laois constituency. Sitting TD Seán Fleming is contesting for Fianna Fáil while Brian Stanley is aiming to retain a seat for Sinn Féin. Willie Aird is running for Fine Gael in bid to win the seat being vacated by Charlie Flanagan. Elaine Mullally is set to run as an independent. 

The Green Party has never held a Dáil seat in Laios or Offaly. Minister Hackett has been selected to run for the party in Offaly. Laois was a three seat constituency in 2016 when Sinead Moore received 1,541 number one votes or 3.96% of the first preferences polled. Just six candidates ran in 2016 when Seán Fleming topped the poll.

The Green Party says its candidates come from a diverse range of backgrounds and 15 (43%) of the candidates are female.