Louth councillor in two-horse race to become Green Party Deputy Leader

Green party councillor for Dundalk South Marianne Butler has confirmed she will contest in the party's deputy leadership race. 

Cllr Butler will face Dublin City councillor and former Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu to become the party's next deputy leader.

The election comes after former deputy leader, Róisín Garvey resigned from her position in October last year. 

In a social media post, Cllr Butler appealed to Green Party members to vote for her in the contest. 

"The Green Party has a hill to climb in Irish politics," she said. 

Cllr Butler said the Green Party needs to become an electoral force all across Ireland. 

She called for unity among the party, and said it is a "very small party to have division and fighting". 

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Cllr Butler received the endorsement of senator Malcom Noonan, who served as Minister of State during the course of the last government but lost his seat in the 2024 general election. 

Senator Noonan said it is a significant time for the party and called it "our second great rebuilding project at a time when we are needed now". 

He said Cllr Butler brings "many years of experience as an elective representative and as an activist, as a councillor on the border counties". 

The Green Party lost all but one of the their 12 seat in the 2024 general election, with leader Roderic O'Gorman the only TD to retain their seat. 

Voting in the contest opened on January 26th and closes at midday on January 28th. 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.