'We need a fresh start': Pippa Hackett enters race to be next Green ...

Ms Hackett said that Eamon Ryan's decision to step down as leader on Tuesday creates the opportunity for the Green Party to have a fresh start adding that she believes she can be that fresh start.

Speaking on Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder, Ms Hackett said she is not a "conventional Green" as she would be the first female leader and the first one to live outside of Dublin.

I believe my different perspective and my different life experiences can make the Green Party relevant and relatable inside and outside of Dublin.

While the party is good at influencing policy they are less skilled at influencing people, something Ms Hackett said will be one of the biggest challenges for the new party leader.

"Rightly or wrongly, many people have become fearful of Green policy, that is certainly not what we want to achieve," she said.

She said she would focus on building relationships with farmers, ordinary people, rural communities and the business community.

Both Senator Pauline Reilly and junior minister Ossian Smyth said this morning that Ms Hackett should be the next leader of the party.

Mr Smyth said that he hopes Ms Hackett will run and he would join her as a candidate for deputy leader.

He told RTÈ's Morning Ireland that Ms Hackett's farming experience made her a good choice for the Green Party, being based outside of Dublin.

Limerick City TD Brian Leddin also gave his backing to Ms Hackett.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, Mr Leddin said: “Pippa has vast experience in her own right at Cabinet. She's performed excellently in her role as super junior minister. She's at the cabinet table managing the affairs of the country brilliantly, I would say, in the last four years.

“But I think as a party, we have to dispel the narrative that we are Dublin centric. And if we go and elect another leader from Dublin, all of the leaders of the Green Party would have been Dublin based.” 

Ms Hackett has been a senator since 2019 and is a super junior minister, so sits at Cabinet.

Responding to concerns that she would not be as experienced as Mr Gorman as she has not serves as a senior cabinet minister, Ms Hackett said that is precisely what enables her to bring a new point of view to the party and what direction it needs to go.

"I believe it's what put me aside and stands me out because we are struggling across the country.

"Right now, to be quite honest, there is no safe seat for any of the Green candidates perhaps outside of Dublin - maybe one or two in Dublin. So I am in the mix as much as any of them in that regard."

In his resignation speech, outgoing leader Eamon Ryan referenced a "relentless attack" on both the Green Party and himself, particularly on social media.

Ms Hackett said that she is prepared for the potential increase of vitriol that could be directed at her should she be successful in her leadership bid.

"I think it's an unfortunately reality. We shouldn't expect it. We shouldn't say it is the norm or normalise it but it is there.

"It's not very pleasant but we have to get down to work."