Irish Greens celebrate 100 days in Government
Wow, has it been 100 days already?
Thanks to STV (a form of Proportional Representation), the Greens have been a political force in Ireland for many years now. However, only after the last election have the Irish Green Party joined the governing coalition. A bit controversial for Greens jumping in bed with the long-ruling party - the party leader resigned to make the coalition work better. It would be like the Canadian Greens joining with the federal liberals as government. Anyways from reading this article, it sounds like the party has been doing really well. At the article’s end, there is a link to a letter that talks about the challenges the Greens have faced in office.
Ariel Lade, Foreign Correspondent.
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Vibrant Greens have 100 reasons to be cheerful
Saturday September 22 2007
www.independent.ie
THE Greens yesterday celebrated 100 days in Government and had extra reasons to be cheerful at a special party think-in at Aughrim, Co Wicklow.
The party has experienced a 21pc surge in membership since the negotiations for Government last June, after initially fearing that its soul-searching decision to go enter power at a special Mansion House meeting could cost it members.
There was a total of 1,600 members nationwide at the time that decision was taken, but the party has now reached 1,935 activists and is said to be catching up on the Labour party.
Membership
Galway Councillor Niall O Brolcháin, who failed to take a seat in Galway West in May, said the 21pc increase in members in three months “shows a growth in the interest in green policies and politics.”
Party Leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley said the party’s 100 days in office had seen much achieved in a short space of time.
He cited a review of waste management policy, increased litter fines, local government reform, and a €5.8bn investment programme to clean up water services.”
He said party meetings around the country had been “packed out,” which was a sign of the party’s vibrancy.
“I think it’s very clear now that we got a good deal from Fianna Fail, not just in terms of Ministers, but of delivering our programme.”
Mr Gormley, who will shortly address the UN on climate change, was speaking on the introduction of new building regulations for energy efficient homes.
After listing party achievements so far, he commented: “We’ve done a lot of work. There’s more to do. Actually that sounds vaguely familiar.”
Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, said Ireland needed to go from a 3pc growth in carbon emissions to an annual 3pc fall. It would need fundamental change, and everyone would need to pull in the same direction.
The Greens spent two days at the Brooklodge Hotel discussing policy development, communications, plans for the new Dáil term and local election strategy.
It will hold a special convention in Dublin on October 6 to give members an input into policy formulation.Mr Gormley said the gathering would “probably” involve a discussion on the new European Treaty, largely a re-run of the Euro Constitution, which is due to be put to the Irish people by referendum next year.
He said his party had always been “pro-European,” despite opposing every EU treaty since Ireland’s accession to the common market.
Mr Gormley added that the party had been particularly supportive of EU directives on the environment.
He also pledged that the Greens would run their own candidate when Dublin gets its first directly-elected Lord Mayor, scheduled for 2011.
