Meet the candidates: Pippa Hackett, Green Party

Here is our Q&A with Pippa Hackett, who is running for the Green Party in Offaly. She is the outgoing Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity in the Department of Agriculture and Green Party Senator.

Why are you running in this election?

Because there is always a third way. It’s not a choice between denying climate change or inflicting hardship on everyone: there is a way for counties like Offaly to be future-focussed and pioneer a new, sustainable way that still provides good employment.

Likewise, if the polls are to be believed, it’s shaping up in Offaly to be two men from the civil war parties maintaining the status quo, and one outsider who will rail against everything from the outside, but with no interest in the hard work of actually governing. The only poll that matters is on November 29, and as a woman with experience at the cabinet table, I can stand up for Offaly in a practical way - working with others to be effective, not just loud.

How do you intend to address the economic concerns that many people face due to the rising costs of groceries, insurance, etc?

Green Party policies are central to tackling the cost of living crisis.

The government’s short-term measures were necessary, and they have been effective, but crucially, Green ministers have also put in place several permanent measures to dramatically bring down the costs of childcare, public transport and household energy, for now and into the future.

Do you think the roll-out of the Just Transition process in Offaly has been a success to date?

Just Transition is a process and only time will tell. So far, I see successes and disappointments. I think the community of Kilcormac, for example, are seeing investment in really exciting projects, but I’m extremely disappointed for the community of Shannonbridge that the proposed renovation of the Dalton centre remains unfunded. I believe it will be funded, but the wait is frustrating and there are plenty more examples like that.

But I think there is a bigger picture where the concern lies not necessarily only in jobs and reskilling opportunities, which we have, but in community building. It’s really heartening to see towns like Clara and now Ferbane come together and create a plan under the Town Centre First policy - which is Green Party policy. These initiatives are what will lead to a socially ‘just’ transition. Just Transition is by its nature a journey, and we haven’t reached the destination yet.

Now we need to extend the benefits to more towns and villages, and I want to be a TD for Offaly to make sure that happens.

What issue would be your top priority if elected to Dáil Eireann?

Ensuring that Offaly is at the centre of our growing green economy. We are a county with a history of being at the forefront of a new way of doing things. This county can lead on new methods of construction, on new skills in retrofitting and nature preservation, on new methods of agriculture and heating our homes.