Pippa Hackett was elected to the Seanad earlier this month.
Its vital that a green voice remains on Offaly County Council.
That's the view of incoming councillor Mark Hackett who is taking over from wife Pippa in the local authority.
He admits that while replacing the senator wasn't initially on his radar -- he is well versed on the political scene at a local and national level.
An organic farm inspector with the Organic Trust, Mr. Hackett was the only nominee for the position, at the November meeting of Offaly County Council yesterday.
His nomination was proposed and seconded by two councillors from the Edenderry Electoral Area, Fianna Fáil's Eddie Fitzpatrick and Fine Gael's Liam Quinn.
Cllr Hackett has already identified one area he wants tackled: