"We'll dust ourselves down and we'll bounce back" - Senator Vincent P Martin

Eliminated on the fifth count in Punchestown with 2162 votes, Senator Vincent P Martin is adamant that he, and the Green Party, will “dust ourselves down” and “bounce back” post-General Election 2024.

The Green Party senator remained decidedly upbeat when contacted by the Leinster Leader this week, despite a crushing defeat at the hands of the Kildare electorate in this year's General Election.

Senator Martin pointed to a national sentiment against the Green Party in Election 2024, which saw the party perform dismally in the polls.

“I'd just like to thank each and everyone who supported me, and the people have spoken and there was clearly a national sentiment, and on this occasion it was impossible to swim successfully against that tide”, he said.

“We're only taking stock of it, we're only processing it at the moment. But we'll dust ourselves down and we'll bounce back.”

Asked if he intended to run for the Seanad again following general election defeat, Senator Martin said he had made “no decisions” or given any thought to the matter as yet.

“There was a national tide against the Green Party, and that's one of those things, that's politics historically that the small party takes a whallop.

“That's what happened here, the small party in government no matter who that party is, takes a big whallop”, he said.

“But we've no regrets, we delivered during our term in office and we knew this was a risk, a big serious risk, we're very much aware of it.”

As for his projections for the incoming government, Senator Martin said he would need to study the results more closely, as “that's all predetermined by the numbers in the Dáil.”

Speaking on what the general election results mean for the Green Party, Senator Martin remained optimistic.

“We've been here before, we just have to not rush the analysis and try to come back stronger. Climate and biodiversity challenges demand that we keep focused and there's a role for Green politics throughout the globe.”