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Hazel Chu

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Irish politician (born 1980)

CllrHazel Chu
Chu in 2021 as Lord Mayor of Dublin
Dublin City Councillor
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 May 2019
ConstituencyPembroke
Lord Mayor of Dublin
In office
29 June 2020 – 28 June 2021
Preceded byTom Brabazon
Succeeded byAlison Gilliland
Personal details
Born (1980-11-03) 3 November 1980 (age 44)
Dublin, Ireland
Political partyGreen Party
Spouse Patrick Costello ​(m. 2021)​
Children1
Alma mater
WebsiteHazel Chu

Hazel Chu (born 3 November 1980) is an Irish Green Party politician who has been a member of Dublin City Council since May 2019. She was chair of the Green Party from December 2019 to December 2021. She was the first Irish-born person of Chinese descent elected to political office on the island of Ireland. She served as Lord Mayor of Dublin from 2020 to 2021, and in doing so became the first person of Chinese ethnicity to be mayor of a European capital.

Family

Chu's parents, Stella Choi Yau-fan and David Chu Tak-Leung, from villages in the New Territories of Hong Kong, both immigrated, individually, to Ireland in the 1970s. They met while working in the kitchen of a restaurant in Dublin and subsequently married, launching a takeaway chip van and other enterprises. Hazel Chu Chung-fai was born at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin in November 1980. She was raised initially in the suburb of Firhouse, South Dublin, where up to 9 members of the extended family shared a 3-bedroom house, and, from age 6, lived in Celbridge, County Kildare. A brother, Joseph, was born when Chu was about 10. After her parents divorced, her mother established four restaurants, while her father returned to his home village to run a café there.

Education

Chu attended a local primary school, and secondary school boarding in Rathdown School in Glenageary, followed by Mount Sackville School in Chapelizod. Chu has explained the boarding school as an example of how language barriers are issues for migrants: her parents didn't read English and she had to translate any letter that came from school for them; the letter informing Chu's parents that they needed to apply for the local secondary school was missed and she couldn't attend since the deadline for applications passed before the error was discovered. Her parents later took out a loan to send her to a boarding school.

Chu graduated with a BA in politics and history from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2002. She was active in college debating and was Auditor (chairperson) of the Politics Society. She completed a legal diploma and barrister-at-law degree at the King's Inns, and in 2007 she became the first Irish-born person of Chinese descent to be called to the Irish Bar. She received a master's degree in marketing practice from UCD in 2011.

Professional career

After graduating from the King's Inns, Chu did not practice as a barrister, but worked as a fundraising manager for St Michael's House and an artist and production manager for Electric Picnic. She spent six months travelling and working in Australia and New Zealand, and part of a year as a volunteer teacher in a remote village in China, near Guilin, in 2009. In 2010 she secured a fellowship as a marketing consultant in New York for Bord Bia. She returned to Ireland in 2012 and worked for Forfás and in the Office of the Chief Scientific Advisor, before working for the NDRC, and then Diageo Ireland, where she headed communications for five-and-a-half years.

Political career

Green Party

Chu managed the campaign for her partner Patrick Costello's successful election at the 2014 Dublin City Council election, in which he topped the poll in the Rathgar–Rathmines local electoral area (LEA) as a Green Party candidate. Chu became a member of the Green Party in 2016 and was subsequently elected to serve on the party's National Executive for three years running. In 2017, with Catherine Martin, Grace O'Sullivan and others she founded Mná Glasa, the party's woman group, and became its co-chair. She was elected National Coordinator of the Green Party and became its Spokesperson for Enterprise in 2018.

Dublin City councillor

Chu stood as a Green Party candidate in the Pembroke LEA in the 2019 Dublin City Council election. She was the first candidate in the country to be declared elected. She topped the poll, receiving a historic 33.1% of the first preference vote. Later that same year she was elected as Chairperson of the Green Party, beating Pauline O'Reilly of Galway West.

She was re-elected as a Councillor for Pembroke LEA in the 2024 Dublin City Council election, reaching the quota on the first count and again being the first candidate in the county to be elected.

Lord Mayor of Dublin

On 29 June 2020, Chu was elected as the Lord Mayor of Dublin, succeeding interim mayor Tom Brabazon. Chu is the first person of colour to hold the role, and the first ethnic Chinese mayor of a major European capital.

By-elections

On 22 March 2021, Chu announced her candidacy as an independent candidate for a Seanad by-election; Chu received the signatures of six of twelve Green Party TDs as part of this nomination, including deputy leader Catherine Martin, with six Green TDs and another four senators opposing her candidacy. Ten days prior, the Green Party executive council, and the majority of Green TDs and Senators, had agreed to not run candidates for the election, leaving each of the larger two government parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, to run one candidate each, in line with an informal agreement. As a result, Chu's party leader indicated that he would not vote for her, and further that her role as chairperson of the party might be discussed internally. During a parliamentary party meeting on 24 March, a motion of no confidence was tabled against Chu by senators Pippa Hackett, Pauline O'Reilly and Róisín Garvey. During the meeting, Eamon Ryan is reported to have confirmed the absence of a formal pact to support the candidates of the other coalition parties, which was contradicted by O'Reilly, saying "If you call a spade a spade, we're in Government, that's a pact". Deputy leader, Catherine Martin urged the senators to withdraw the motion and it was later replaced with a motion calling for Chu to temporarily step aside from the position as party chair for the duration of the election. This was passed by 11 votes to five at a meeting of the Parliamentary Party. The Executive Council of the party, however, decided not to follow the parliamentary party's decision and Chu remained in the position of chair until the end of her term in December 2021. Chu was not successful at the by-election, receiving 10 first preference votes (4.9%).

Chu subsequently ran unsuccessfully in the 2022 Seanad by-election, receiving 13.2% of the first preference votes, and was commended by the party for "championing climate action and inclusion".

On 27 April 2021, on the resignation of Eoghan Murphy from his Dáil Éireann seat in Dublin Bay South, after consulting with party leadership Chu announced she would participate in the Green Party selection convention for the party nomination, competing with Dublin City councillor Claire Byrne; Chu did not receive this nomination, with Byrne selected by local party members to compete in the election.

General elections

On 15 July 2024, Chu was selected as the Green Party candidate for Dublin Bay South at the 2024 Irish general election, following the announcement of the retirement of Eamon Ryan, the incumbent Green TD. Chu was eliminated on the 7th count, with over 3,000 first preference votes, and was not elected.

In December 2024, Chu announced she would contest the 2024 Seanad Éireann election for the Dublin University panel.

Political views

Chu has stated she is in favour of increasing diversity in Irish politics, emphasising the importance of representation to normalise public office for people of colour. She has acknowledged the abuse faced by herself and others, such as Yemi Adenuga and Uruemu Adejinmi, and stressed the need for political parties to actively recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds. While highlighting the strength of allyship, she has criticised the slow pace of change and called for systemic action, urging all parties to reject discriminatory behaviour and prioritise inclusion.

Chu has expressed her commitment to the Green Party but has been vocal about internal issues, including bullying and the need for greater diversity within its ranks. She has described the Green Party as a broad church but noted tensions between its activist roots and the compromises of coalition government, which have caused friction among members. Chu has stated that these compromises, such as policy shifts on issues like CETA, have alienated some supporters who initially joined the party for its progressive social agenda.

Chu has supported ending the Direct Provision system, describing it as a societal stain akin to the Magdalene Laundries and the Mother and Baby Homes. She has highlighted the damaging effects of Direct Provision on children and adults alike, calling for its complete abolition and expressing confidence in the efforts of Minister Roderic O'Gorman and his team to deliver on this goal. She has also criticised Dublin’s urban planning, advocating for increased residential zoning in the city centre and the repurposing of empty student accommodation to address homelessness.

Personal life

Chu resides in Dublin. She met her husband, Patrick Costello, before her UCD studies, and they have been together since her time at King's Inns. The couple have one daughter. They married in June 2021. Chu speaks Cantonese fluently, and some Mandarin.

Harassment

Chu has spoken of racism, bullying, and harassment while growing up. Subsequent to her election to the council and the media attention around it, Chu became a target of racist online harassment, particularly on Twitter. Some of her harassers targeted her skin colour but others labelled her a migrant and denied that she could be an Irish national. Further, some claimed that she was a product of the so-called "great replacement", a conspiracy theory propagated by the alt-right. The harassment later escalated to phone calls to her home. Justin Barrett, leader of the far-right fringe group the National Party, publicly indicated that if he ever got into power, he would attempt to strip Chu of her citizenship, despite her Irish birth. Chu stated her resolution to not be intimidated by the harassment and to continue with her political career.

In January 2021 Chu described having been racially abused by a group of far-right protestors who had gathered outside the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor.

Notes

  1. Anna Lo, who was born and raised in Hong Kong, was previously elected, in 2007, to the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing Belfast South.

References

  1. ^ McCarthy, Mary (16 July 2020). "This Working Life: The stress of politics? I'm thinking of taking up boxing gloves next". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  2. Hazel Chu (3 November 2020). "Woke up to this lovely conversation this morning" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Quann, Jack (29 November 2019). "Hazel Chu elected Cathaoirleach of The Green Party". newstalk. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  4. ^ O Neill, Bronwyn (31 May 2019). "Woman of the Week: How Hazel Chu made history this election season". evoke.ie. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  5. ^ O'Donoghue, Denise (12 August 2019). "'This is happening in our own country': Dublin councillor Hazel Chu hits out at racist abuse and Nazi salutes". BreakingNews.ie. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  6. ^ Carney, John (5 August 2020). "Dublin's first ethnic-Chinese mayor on racism, her parents' work ethic, and teaching poor children in China". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. "Hazel Chu on being a woman of colour in Irish politics". RTÉ.ie. 1 August 2020. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. Fegan, Joyce (12 August 2019). "Presidential bid could be next as Hazel Chu pledges never to let racism stop her". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Hazel Chu". The Ryan Tubridy Show. 12 August 2019. RTÉ Radio 1. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  10. ^ McMahon, Áine (13 August 2019). "My education journey: Hazel Chu – Dublin City councillor and Green Party co-ordinator". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  11. ^ O'Regan, Nadine. "Podcast: the Hazel Chu interview on #HowIDidIt". Business Post. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  12. "In her own words". UCD Connections. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  13. "Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu on racism in Ireland, gender equality and building a legacy". VIP Magazine. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  14. Tam, Jimmy (28 September 2020). "Dublin Lord Mayor: Hazel Chu and her Chinese heritage". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Hazel Chu MSc '11". UCD Business Alumni. March 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  16. "2013 Archive". Hard Working Class Heroes. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021. Hazel Chu was recently appointed the Head of Corporate and Trade Communications for Diageo. Prior to joining Diageo, Hazel held the position of interim Head of Communications at NDRC (National Digital Research Centre), managing the overall marketing and communications strategy for the organisation while advising multiple start-ups on how to build their brand.
  17. "Hazel Chu MSc '11 | UCD Business Alumni". www.ucd.ie. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  18. O'Donoghue, Niamh (22 December 2018). "Women in politics: Hazel Chu could be the first ever Irish Born Chinese politician to be elected in the Irish State". image.ie. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  19. "James Geoghegan and Hazel Chu are first Dublin candidates elected in local elections". headtopics.com. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  20. Lord Mayor of Dublin (29 June 2020). "Cllr @hazechu has been elected the 352nd Lord Mayor of Dublin" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 June 2020 – via Twitter.
  21. "Green Party's Hazel Chu is new Lord Mayor of Dublin". RTÉ News. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  22. Moore, Aoife (22 January 2021). "Lord mayor of Dublin harassed at her home by far-right protestors". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021. Chu: "If it comes down to one thing – you don't like a woman of colour in this office – then we have a huge problem."
  23. "Lord Mayors of Dublin 1665–2020" (PDF). Dublin City Council. June 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  24. "Seanad Bye-Elections". www.gov.ie. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  25. ^ Hosford, Paul (22 March 2021). "Hazel Chu to run as independent candidate in Seanad by-election". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  26. ^ McQuinn, Cormac. "Eamon Ryan 'tells Greens' no pact on supporting Coalition candidates for Seanad". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  27. McGee, Harry (22 March 2021). "Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will not vote for Hazel Chu in Seanad byelection". The Irish Times. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  28. "Greens back motion to request Hazel Chu to step aside as chair". Irish Examiner. 31 March 2021.
  29. "Hazel Chu role as chair of Green Party executive committee ends". The Irish Times. 15 December 2021.
  30. "Byrne and Horkan elected to Seanad following by-election". RTÉ News. 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  31. "Green Party commends Cllr Hazel Chu and Paula Roseingrave for championing climate action and inclusion in Seanad run". Green Party. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  32. Bray, Jennifer. "Hazel Chu seeks to run in byelection in party leader's constituency". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  33. Boland, Lauren (4 June 2021). "Green Party names Claire Byrne as by-election candidate for Dublin Bay South". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  34. "Hazel Chu to replace Eamon Ryan as Green Party's Dublin Bay South election candidate". Irish Examiner. 15 July 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  35. "Dublin Bay South General Election 2024 updates: Soc Dems' Eoin Hayes takes last seat to join James Geoghegan, Ivana Bacik and Jim O'Callaghan in Dáil". Irish Independent. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  36. ^ Clark, Stuart (2 April 2021). "Hazel Chu: "I can change policies, I can change ideas but I can't change my skin colour"". Hot Press. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  37. "Hazel Chu and Patrick Costello married in 'casual and relaxed' wedding at the Mansion House". Irish Independent. 20 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  38. O'Connor, Rachel (30 September 2019). "Irish far-right National Party leader doused with milkshake during event in Galway". Irish Post. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  39. "'Whether I'm Irish or not has nothing to do with them' - councillor Hazel Chu hits back at online trolls after 'threatening' messages". Irish Independent. 10 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  40. Hickey, Margaret (15 August 2019). "Hate is wrong, but it should not be criminal". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  41. "Chu 'fears for daughter's safety' amid racist abuse". RTÉ News. 22 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
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