Green Party wipe out in Laois Offaly as Minister eliminated
Neither candidate in Laois and Offaly won more than 1,000 number one votes
The Green Party has suffered a major defeat in the new Laois and Offaly General Election constituencies with the early elimination of both its candidates in the two counties despite having a minister representing the counties in the outgoing Government.
The biggest casualty is Pippa Hackett in Offaly. The outgoing Minister of State and Senator contested the Laois Offaly Constituency in the 2020 General Election when she secured 3,494 number-one votes or 5% of the total vote.
While not elected to the Dáil, the Geashill farmer won Senate seat. She was then appointed as a super junior Minister which would see her sit at Cabinet with the Taoiseach, Táinaiste every week for the last five years.
A close ally of former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Ms Hackett contested the Green leadership election after Mr Ryan stepped down. She came closed to becoming leader.
However, this high standing has meant little to voters in Offaly where she decided to stand after Laois and Offaly were split for the 2024 General Election.
Ms Hackett was eliminated after the second count in Offaly after securing just 925 first preference votes.
Her counterpart in the new Laois constituency was her parliamentary assistant Rosie Palmer. The former local election candidate polled 747 number one votes but lasted longer in the Laois count. She was eliminated on the fourth count with a total of 788 votes.