Candidates prepare for final Green Party leadership hustings

Monaghan-native Ms Martin is challenging Mr Ryan, who has been leader of the party which recently entered coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, since May 2011.

Green Party leadership candidates Catherine Martin and Eamon Ryan will this evening take part in the final online membership hustings of the leadership contest, which will be chaired again by the National Coordinator of the Green Party, Bláithín Gallagher.

Monaghan-native Ms Martin is challenging Mr Ryan, who has been leader of the party which recently entered coalition with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, since May 2011.

A TD for the Dublin Rathdown constituency since 2016, Ms Martin has served as Deputy Leader of the Green Party since June 2011, and was recently appointed to the role of Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.

Deputy Ryan is serving Minister for Climate Action, Communications Networks and Transport.

The hustings have been organised regionally according to EU constituencies, and this evening members from the Midlands-North-West and Northern Ireland regions have the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates via Zoom.

The broadcast runs from 7 pm to 9 pm and the schedule is as follows:

- 7.00 - 7.05 Bláithín Gallagher opens hustings

- 7.05 - 7.25 Opening speeches from candidates (10 minutes each)

- 7.25 - 8.45 Questions from members via Zoom

- 8.45 - 8.55 Candidates closing speeches

-8:55 - 9:00 Bláithín Gallagher closes hustings

Ballots went out to eligible voters and must be back by 5.30pm on July 22.

The count and announcement of the winner of the leadership contest will follow on July 23.