Pauline O'Reilly (born 1974/1975) is an Irish Green Party politician who has served as a Senator for the Labour Panel since April 2020[2][3] and Cathaoirleach of the Green Party since December 2021.
Early life and education
O'Reilly is a qualified solicitor. She is chairwoman of the Galway Steiner National School.
O'Reilly stood unsuccessfully in Galway West in the 2020 general election. She won 6% of first preference votes and finished ninth in the 5 seater constituency.[5][6]
She was elected to Seanad Éireann in 2020 as a Senator for the Labour Panel.[7] Niall Murphy was co-opted to O'Reilly's seat on Galway City Council following her election to the Seanad. She is the Green Party Spokesperson for Education and Higher Education.[8] She is the Leader of the Green Party in the Seanad. [9]
On 24 March 2021, O'Reilly was one of three Green Party senators to table a motion of no confidence against party Cathaoirleach Hazel Chu, after Chu announced her candidacy in a Seanad bye-election as an independent, with O'Reilly stating she does not believe it's appropriate "to run as an Independent candidate and also to be a chair of a party that’s in government and is supporting Government candidates".[10]
On 16 December 2021, O'Reilly was elected as Cathaoirleach (Chairperson) of the Irish Green Party, succeeding Chu, following an election against Councillor Collette Finn and Dr. Bláithín Gallagher.[11] O'Reilly was re-elected to the position of party chair on 26 November 2023.[12]