For Minister Pippa Hackett, it has been an extraordinary year.
She was elected to Seanad Eireann in April, and when the Green Party agreed to go into government, leader Eamon Ryan chose her as a Super-Junior minister at the Department of Agriculture. The “super” bit means she also attends cabinet.
“I was very surprised, but obviously delighted” she says. “The Taoiseach has the option to appoint up to two ministers from the Seanad but it has only happened three times in the history of the State.”
The new Minister arrived at the Department with a BSc in Agriculture, a postgraduate diploma, and a PhD. She has been farming with her husband Mark for 20 years, not far from Mountmellick, converting to organic farming in 2013. She was given responsibility for “Land use and Biodiversity” which includes the thorny issue of forestry, as well as organics and horticulture.
“Forestry is in a crisis because of the backlog of issuing licences and because of a backlog in appeals – meaning there was a delay on both planting and felling trees.
“I introduced a Bill in September to to streamline the appeals process, and instructed my department to take on more resources, ecologists and forestry inspectors to help with the backlog and we are gradually making progress on it.
“I was delighted to secure a significant increase in funding for horticulture and organic farming in the budget, and I look forward to seeing how that is spent next year. I believe we must be careful how we use land and grow food. We need to grow more of the food we eat, and plant the right trees in the right places.”
Her constituency branch has seen a huge resurgence this year, with three new local area representatives in Laois now supporting her – Sean McManus in Portlaoise, John Holland in Portarlington/Graiguecullen and Niall Pickering in Borris-in-Ossary/Mountmellick.
“They are excellent representatives and are enthusiastic about developing the Green Party on the ground,” says Minister Hackett.
“I think people are aware that we need to make changes and we need to make them fairly. Laois and the Midlands have benefitted over the past six months from the Greens in government. We’ve got funding for walking and cycle paths, for bog restoration, for retrofitting homes.”
As a farmer herself, Minister Hackett sees herself as bridging the gap that previously existed between farmers and environmentalist. She understands the views and challenges on both sides and sees the common ground where they can pull together.
“My party is committed to getting a better deal for farmers, small farmers especially, in a way that also restores soil health, improves rural Ireland’s water and air quality, reduces our greenhouse gas emissions, and brings biodiversity back into the countryside.
“For that reason, I’m relishing the role I play in the Department of Agriculture and I’m looking forward to meeting the challenges in the year ahead.
“My greatest hope for the coming year is that we overcome the Covid crisis, meet the challenges of Brexit, and continue to take climate action so that we can live well in this country.”
SEE ALSO – LaoisToday Podcast: Pippa Hackett on her Green rise, growing up in Mayo, switching to organic farming and life in Leinster House
The post 2020 – a big year for Laois-Offaly Green Party Minister appeared first on Laois Today.
source https://www.laoistoday.ie/2020/12/14/2020-a-big-year-for-laois-offaly-green-party-minister/
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