Early backing for Laois Offaly farmer Minister of State to lead Green Party

Laois-Offaly Senator and Minister Pippa hacket has won the backing of two leading members of the Green Party in the party's leadership race in the wake of Eamon Ryan's shock decision to step down.

The biggest endorsement came from Minister of State Ossian Smyth, speaking on RTE Radio' 1's Morning Ireland  said he would be supporting Ms Hackett.

He stressed that there will not be a “coronation” of the next leader and Minister Hackett would appeal to voters in rural Ireland. He said it was false that the Greens were against rural Ireland and farmers.

"The way to counter it is not to have someone like me from Dublin, what do I know about farming, it is to have someone like Pippa Hackett to run. She is a beef and sheep farmer walking around her farm in her wellies, who understands what she is doing. She is the right person to make the case," he said.

Minister Smyth insisted that his colleague would contest the next General Election where he said there is currently just one TD, Carol Nolan, based in the county with the departure of Barry Cowen. 

The Dublin TD also said he would be willing to put himself forward for the position of deputy-leader of the party.

Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly unsucessfully contested Midlands North West in the European Elections told Virgin Media said she will also support Minister Hackett in the leadership race.

“I am endorsing minister Pippa Hackett for the role as leader. I’d say that you’ll see many people coming out and saying the same. The Greens have four cabinet ministers, one of those would be Minister Pippa Hackett and she is the only one from outside Dublin. For me, coming from Galway, it’s essential that we have that rebalancing. What we have seen is people speak about the Green Party as if we don’t understand what it’s like to live outside Dublin and that’s not correct,” she said.

Minister Hackett, who is a Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, has not declared her intentions yet but it is understood that support is growing for her candidacy with in the party.

The Mayo native was appointed to the Senate by the Taoiseach. She was subsequently appointed a Minister of State with so-called 'super junior' status. This means she attends Cabinet meetings with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other Government Ministers. 

Other candidates for the post are expected to announce their candidacy as the day progresses.

In a surprise development, Eamon Ryan said he was stepping down yesterday (Tuesday).

Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin also announced that she would not be a candidate in the leadership race.

Figures expected to contest the leadership battle include Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman and Minister of State Joe O'Brien as well as Minister Hackett.