The Laois-Offaly branch of the Green Party has selected Rosie Palmer as the new Local Electoral Area Representative for Portlaoise.
Rosie is a Laois-native living in Ballinakill and is Parliamentary Assistant to Minister Pippa Hackett. She joins John Holland, the party’s representative in Portarlington-Graiguecullen.
Rosie replaces Sean McManus who stepped down from the role but remains a member of the party.
Rosie is passionate about the area in which she lives – playing and coaching rugby with Portlaoise RFC and actively volunteering in her local community.
Her background is in social policy and human rights and she has an interest in addressing climate change from a human rights perspective.
She said: “Coming from a rural part of the Midlands has made me very aware of what we, as a rural population, need as we make our transition to climate neutrality.
“I’m looking forward to working with the local communities here to achieve that in a way that is fair and beneficial to everyone.
“Climate change effects most those who are least responsible for it so we need to ensure that our response to climate change addresses that inequality.
“We need to build a world where justice, equality and sustainability is at the forefront.”
Minister Pippa Hackett said she was thrilled that Rosie had been selected as the local area rep for the Portlaoise.
She said: “Rosie is embedded in her community in Laois and is passionate about improving quality of life for the people there.
“We have so few women in politics, particularly in rural constituencies, and I know, first hand, how challenging that is.
“I’m looking forward to working with her for the Portlaoise area, and to her taking a seat on Laois County Council in 2024.”
At the recent AGM of the Laois-Offaly Green Party, Councillor Mark Hackett, who represents the Edenderry electoral area on the Offaly County Council, was re-elected as chairperson.
Addressing the AGM, he spoke about the injustice of climate change and the social injustice that exists within our communities.
He welcomed new members, and new officers to their roles saying that he was delighted to see Rosie Palmer selected as the Local Area Rep for Portlaoise.
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