Kilkenny TD Malcolm Noonan won’t seek Green Party leadership, endorses his colleague
He is a popular member of the party and its longest-serving elected representative
Local TD Malcolm Noonan has ruled himself out of the running to replace Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, and endorsed a party colleague as his preferred candidate.
After Eamon Ryan announced yesterday he is to resign from the role, Minister of State Noonan said he would not be putting his name forward. Today, he has endorsed Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who has just announced he is seeking the leadership.
On foot of Mr Ryan’s announcement yesterday lunchtime, speculation was rife that the local TD could be in the frame to be the new leader or deputy leader of the Green Party.
He was first elected to the Dail in 2020 and was promoted to Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform. He is popular within his party and also highly-regarded in wider circles in the Dail.
Minister of State Noonan has achieved a number of legislative successes in terms of the Green agenda and secured funding boosts for areas like biodiversity, nature, and built heritage. First elected to Kilkenny Borough Council in 2004, he is the party's longest-serving elected representative.
Deputy leader of the party Catherine Martin also said she would not be seeking the leadership.