Senator Victor Boyhan has been elected on the first count to a third term in the Seanad on the Agricultural Panel.
The former Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform and Green Party veteran, Malcolm Noonan has also been elected on the first count.
The third candidate to be elected after the first count on Friday (January 31) to the Seanad’s Agricultural Panel was Sinn Féin’s Joanne Collins.
The Agriculture Panel has the joint-most number of seats of all the panels in the Seanad, with 11, and had 28 candidates standing for election.
Counting is underway to elect 49 out of a total 60 senators because 11 of these are nominated by the Taoiseach.
So far including the three candidates elected to the Agricultural Panel, five candidates have also been elected to the Cultural and Educational Panel these include Sinn Féin’s Pauline Tully, Fine Gael’s Cathal Byrne, Fianna Fáil’s Shane Curley, former Fine Gael TD, Seán Kyne, and cormer Waterford City and County Mayor, Joe Conway.
Seanad elections
Senator Boyhan told Agriland that he was “exceptionally happy” to have won a third term in the Seanad.
He said: “The Seanad slection campaign is tough and a very competitive election that requires travelling the entire country to make your case for re-election, its demanding but I have to say I am always energised by meeting local politicians, boots on the ground is very much my way doing business.
“I value direct engagement, and seeing and getting feedback on projects delivered and problems solved on the ground”.
Boyhan was a strong advocate for horticulture, forestry and agri-food enterprises during his last two terms in the Seanad.
He said one of his immediate priorities is to keep the pressure on government to support “profitable and sustainable agriculture, also to develop a new set of rural housing guidelines”
“I will continue to make the case for removing impediments to farm families wishing to stay on, or return to, their home farmland to build a home to ensure and secure a future for their families and their communities.
“I share the EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christopher Hansen’s view that farming can be sustainable economically as well as environmentally,” he added.
Green Party
Meanwhile the Green Party said it was “celebrating” the election of Malcolm Noonan to the Seanad Agricultural Panel.
Roderic O’Gorman, leader of the Green Party, said: “Malcolm’s election to the Seanad is a testament to his unwavering dedication to fostering a greener and more sustainable Ireland.
“His extensive experience and leadership will be pivotal in advancing Green initiatives to promote sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation.”