18 September 2019
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Councillor Oliver Moran selected to contest Cork North Central by-election for Greens
Green Party members in Cork North Central have nominated their first-time councillor for Cork City North East, and Green Party spokesperson for political reform, Oliver Moran to contest the by-election in the constituency.
Oliver Moran (Green Party)
Speaking after his nomination, Cllr. Moran said: “I’m very honoured to have been selected again to contest the bye-election on behalf of the Cork Greens. We’ve hit the ground running in Cork City Council. So too have my colleagues in the county council. We’re making a difference on climate change, housing, transport, community spaces, and transparency. The job ahead will be to demonstrate that the green wave from May can be carried forward into this by-election, and a likely general election afterwards.”
Cllr. Moran had previously stood for the party in the constituency in the 2016 General Election, receiving roughly 3.3% of first preference votes, and was elected to Cork City Council earlier this year on the tenth count, having received roughly 8.7% of first preference votes in the Northside ward.
The by-election was called as a result of the election of Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher to the European Parliament in May, causing him to vacate his seat in the Dáil. Councillor Moran noted the importance of the by-election in the wider European context: “This by-election will happen in the shadow of Brexit, with all its uncertainty. A Green TD for Cork will be someone with direct party connections to Belfast, as well as sister parties in London, Edinburgh and countries across Europe,” Councillor Moran continued. “I’m ready to be Cork’s voice in that European movement of Greens working in every state to keep borders open and to protect [the] peace.”
Five by-elections must be held before January 2nd 2020 as a result of the European elections in May of this year, including four Dáil elections in Dublin Mid-West, Cork North Central, Wexford and Dublin Fingal. Additionally, one Seanad by-election must take place, as Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan had to vacate her place on the Agricultural panel in order to take her seat in Europe.
