Congresswoman Rhoda Scott.
Grace O’Sullivan, Member of Parliament for Southern Ireland, and Leader Rhoda Scott in the European Parliament.
Greystones councilor Rhoda Scott has been elected as the Green Party’s candidate for the South of Ireland constituency.
If for any reason a member of the European Parliament is unable to complete his or her term in the European Parliament, an alternate member takes his place. Councilor Scott will be the third member on the panel following a recent voting process among Green Party members.
In his speech after his election, Chief Scott said: This means that if the South of Ireland re-elects their MP, I could potentially replace them.
“I recently traveled to Brussels to meet Grace O’Sullivan, the current Member of Parliament for the South of Ireland. I was able to visit the European Parliament and gain an insight into how European politics works. It was great to see how the EU works for us here in Wicklow at a local level, through funding schemes such as LEADER and the translation of EU law into practical action on the ground. We had a thorough discussion about whether we could proceed.
“I have pointed out that local efforts can sometimes point the way forward. For example, my efforts on the Climate Policy Committee have helped ensure that the use of glyphosate, which is currently hotly debated in Europe, is on the Board of Directors. We also discussed the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the response of members of Congress.
Chief of Staff Scott continued: “I would be very honored to be considered to replace the councilor if the opportunity arises. However, my priority at the moment is to continue my work on council. That’s what I’m aiming for.
“We would like to remind you that all residents over the age of 18 have the right to vote in local elections, and that all citizens of the European Union over the age of 18 have the right to vote in European elections. If you are not registered, we encourage you to register and vote this year,” she concluded.