*Senator Roisin Garvey (GP). Photograph: John Mangan
CLARE SENATOR Roisin Garvey (GP) has taken up the role of the Green Party’s leader in the Seanad.
Inagh native Roisin who was one of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s (FF) eleven nominations to the Seanad in June 2020 assumes the role from Senator Pauline O’Reilly (GP) as of Friday.
Shortly after the formation of the Government two years ago, the Green Party decided to rotate the position of its Seanad leader in tandem with the rotation of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.
Senator Garvey said she is excited to take on the responsibility and will use it to put people’s needs to the fore in the upper chamber, particularly around water quality, nature protection and regional balance.
On top of her role as Green Party leader in the Seanad, she is also the party’s spokesperson for Rural Development and Enterprise, Trade and Employment. “It’s a great honour for me to take on the role of Green Party leader in the Seanad. It’s a position I intend to devote myself to over the coming two years and I plan to use it to promote Green values throughout Irish life.
“More than ever, politicians need to explain how protecting our environment will also improve people’s quality of life, deliver cleaner air, boost business and result in healthier lifestyles. Everyone wins in this scenario and that’s a message I intend to focus on over the coming period,” she stated.
In 2019, she became the first female councillor elected in North Clare and a year later ran in the General Election where she secured 5,624 first preference votes (9.5%) and was eliminated on the second last count.
Lived experiences “of the challenges people face living in rural Ireland, including accessing health services and public transport and farming in a changing climate” will be highlighted in her new role, Roisin pledged.
She is one of four Green Party Senators alongside O’Reilly, Pippa Hackett and Vincent Martin.
