28 Facts About Neasa Hourigan

Neasa Hourigan was Chair of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight from September 2020 until being suspended from the parliamentary party in March 2023.

Neasa Hourigan graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Technological University Dublin, a Master of Architecture from University College Dublin, a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and has lectured in sustainable communities, environmental design and green procurement at both Queen's University Belfast and Technological University Dublin.

Neasa Hourigan was elected to represent Cabra-Glasnevin local electoral area on Dublin City Council at the 2019 local elections.

Neasa Hourigan is the Green Party's Spokesperson for Finance and Health.

At the 2020 general election, Neasa Hourigan was elected as a TD for Dublin Central.

On 30 July 2020, Neasa Hourigan resigned as party whip of the Green Party, but did not leave the party after voting against the Government twice on amendments to the Residential Tenancies Bill.

Neasa Hourigan was later sanctioned by party leader Eamon Ryan by having her speaking rights withdrawn for two months.

Neasa Hourigan and Costello argued that the court system would allow Canadians investing in Ireland to sue the state if the state impeded their profits, such as with environmentalist laws, and this was a major threat to Ireland's sovereignty.

On 17 May 2022 Costello and Neasa Hourigan were both suspended from the Green Party for six months after they voted against the government on a motion calling for the new National Maternity Hospital to be built on land wholly owned by the state.

Costello and Neasa Hourigan were re-admitted to the parliamentary party in November 2022.

On 7 March 2023, Neasa Hourigan criticised the government for its decision to end the eviction ban, calling the decision "heartless".

Neasa Hourigan spoke out against Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, saying that he did not speak to the party's policies.

Senator and Green Party Chair Pauline O'Reilly rebuked Hourigan's remarks and said that it was "clear Neasa didn't have all the facts".

On 22 March 2023 Neasa Hourigan was suspended from the Green Parliamentary Party for fifteen months and removed from her committee position for voting against the government on an amendment to a Sinn Fein motion calling for the extension of the eviction ban.

On 14 July 2024, Neasa Hourigan was narrowly defeated by Senator Roisin Garvey in an election to replace Catherine Martin as deputy leader of the Green Party.

At the 2024 general election, Neasa Hourigan received 1,952 first preference votes, the seventh highest in the 4-seater Dublin Central constituency.

Neasa Hourigan was eliminated on the 7th count, and lost her seat.

Neasa Hourigan believes the climate and biodiversity crises are urgent issues and has expressed concern over the role of large multinational corporations in driving environmental harm.

Neasa Hourigan has proposed limiting the size of these corporations and breaking up those that do not operate responsibly, seeing them as significant contributors to pollution, deforestation, and emissions.

Neasa Hourigan has called for long-term, multi-annual funding in place of the current annual budget and electoral cycles, believing this would allow for a more consistent and effective response to the climate crisis.

Neasa Hourigan supports relocating Dublin Port to create space for housing development and reduce pollution in the city, suggesting that rail integration could help manage port-related traffic.

Neasa Hourigan believes that treating drug use as a health issue, rather than a criminal one, would be more effective in addressing the underlying problems, and believes there should be an emphasis on reducing the stigma surrounding addiction.

Neasa Hourigan believes that when two adults are involved, their human rights and choices should be respected, as long as no harm is being caused to others.

In March 2024 Neasa Hourigan called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza war, asserting that the situation amounts to genocide.

Neasa Hourigan rejects accusations that criticising the actions in Gaza is antisemitic, affirming that Ireland, as a neutral country, has a valid position based on human rights.

Neasa Hourigan has expressed opposition to moving away from Ireland's neutrality, particularly concerning changes to Ireland's triple lock mechanism for military deployment, but has backed increased investment in Ireland's Defence Forces, particularly for the protection of offshore energy infrastructure.

Neasa Hourigan has three children, one of whom is hard of hearing and is registered as blind.

Neasa Hourigan's sister Niamh Hourigan was an unsuccessful Labour Party candidate in the 2024 European Parliament elections.