Green Party say Laois electorate have the opportunity to vote for climate and social justice

THE General Party candidate in Laois Rosie Palmer has officially launched her general election campaign in a bid to attain one of the three seats in the constituency.

The Ballinakill woman who contested last June’s local election in the Portlaoise Municipal District and received 295 first preference votes, said that she was determined that people in Laois should have the opportunity to vote for climate and social justice.

She said: “It was clear very early on in the count of the local elections that I had not done as well as I had hoped to do. When I was asked late that Saturday night by a local news outlet what went wrong, my honest response was I don’t know. What I did know was that I put in a huge amount of work. I am wholly committed to my community and I stay faithful to the Green message. The voters heard what I had to say, but for one reason or another they didn’t resonate with my message.” Ms Palmer said: “I want the people of Laois to know that I represent the ordinary person. Like many, I can’t afford to drive an EV or retrofit my home. I’m a single parent with a teenage son and a mortgage to pay. I’m generally content with food in my fridge and a warm place to call home.” “I reflected on what people had to say in June,” said Ms Palmer, “and what I took away is that it is now time to shift the burden from ordinary, working people.

“I won’t ask the people of Laois to completely move on from their way of life for generations without ensuring that a feasible alternative is in place and I commit to delivering more than just a limited range of grants available for the fortunate ones who are financially able to exploit them.” “We all know that climate change is real, that it is happening and that it will be the issue that shapes the future of the planet. The rural communities in Laois need no convincing of this,” said the Green Party candidate.

Ms Palmer said: “I’m asking the people of Laois to consider the other candidates and their stance on the issues that matter to them. When the history books are written, did your choice do the right thing by humanity and the planet that we call home, or did they choose populism and give into conservatism?” “I know I have an uphill climb ahead of me,” she said. “I’m asking that anyone who is liberal minded and left leaning to consider voting for me in the knowledge that every first preference vote I receive is a signal to whomever forms the next Government that they cannot ignore social and climate justice.” 

There are now 10 candidates who have announced their intention to contest the election on 29 December in the Laois constituency.

Along with Rosie Palmer from the Green Party there are Austin Stack and Minister of State Sean Fleming ( both Fianna Fáil) Elaine Mullally (Independent), Willie Aird (Fine Gael), Mary Hand (Aontú), Ken Mooney (People Before Profit), Maria McCormack (Sinn Féin), Aisling Moran (Independent) and Brian Stanley (Independent Republican).