Laois public no longer able to vote for Green Minister Pippa Hackett

Laois voters will no longer be able to vote for Green Party Minister Pippa Hackett as new electoral boundaries are announced. 

The Offaly based Green Party Minister lost out on a Dail seat in the 2020 General Election coming sixth in the five-seat Laois Offaly constituency. It has now been split, with three seats in both Laois and Offaly in the next election. 

Speaking following the publication of a Constituency Review report,  Minister Hackett said she fully intends to run in the next General Election.   

“I was proud to come 6th in the five-seater Laois Offaly constituency in the General Election of 2020, and I was immensely grateful to those who voted for me. I was elected to Seanad Eireann in April of 2020, and I’ve enjoyed working with communities across both Laois and Offaly since,” said Minister Hackett.  

“Whilst I am disappointed by the outcome for my own constituency of Laois-Offaly, I am fully aware that the establishment of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the Electoral Commission, represents the most important reform of the electoral system in decades. 

The Green Party made a submission in favour of the greater use of larger constituencies, as we believe these promote more diversity, gender balance, and ensure all views are represented in the Oireachtas,” she said. 

“I fully intend to run in the next election as the Green Party candidate for Offaly – with three seats this will be an uphill challenge, but I’ll dig deep, and will stand on my proven record of representing the people of the Midlands as a Senator, as a Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture and as the only Minister at Cabinet for the area,” she said. 

“Some politicians may wish for the people of Offaly to stay forever tied to the past. That is not my vision, nor is it the vision of the many amazing communities I have met across this county, who are fully aware of the potential that the future green economy holds for this county and region. And I am ready to deliver on those opportunities,” said Minister Hackett.

https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/local-news/1284806/back-to-the-future-in-laois-politics-as-laois-offaly-divorce-again.html 

“I believe Offaly needs that faithful and effective representation - someone who will maximise the benefits - for business, for communities, for inclusivity and for nature. Bring it on,” said Minister Hackett.