Around 200 Green Party members attended a leadership hustings tonight where the two candidates to succeed Eamon Ryan set out their stalls.
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman and Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett, answered questions from delegates and expanded on their vision of what they would bring to the position.
Members will vote online from 4-7 July with the result to be announced on Monday 8 July.
Mr O'Gorman said that while the Green Party's core vote held strong in the recent local and European elections, such a result would lead to the loss of Dáil seats in the next general election.
"I am not standing here to manage decline or to head back into the wilderness. I will not accept defeat," he said.
Ms Hackett said the party had to work at getting back the Green vote and rebuilding.
"We have to get better at showing the benefit of voting Green. It's up to us to deliver policy that is relevant, easy and affordable for people and communities across the country," she said.
