Greens in government a real possibility - Sargent
Green Party ministers serving in an Government for the first time is a very real prospect, party leader Trevor Sargent said today.
Over 500 party delegates will debate two competing motions on the issue at their annual convention in Cork this weekend.
The Cork South Central branch has called for Greens to fight the general election on its own platform with the aim of returning as many TDs as possible, and only then enter into talks with other parties.
However a motion by the parliamentary party’s six TDs want to “keep open the option of entering a pre-election arrangement with other parties if it is deemed to be in the interests of promoting Green policies.”
Mr Sargent said today he was ready to lead his party into the next Government but key changes in several policy areas had to be firstly guaranteed.
He accused the current Fianna Fail-led coalition of mismanagement on traditional Green issues and added that the Fine Gael and Labour “haven’t expressed hostility” to his policies.
Mr Sargent, party leader since 2001, signalled climate change, global warming, energy efficiency and better-funded health care and public transport as core policy priorities.
“If we are serious about going into Government we must use the next general election campaign to push our policies and aim for as many TDs as possible.
“It is clear that the prospect of going into Government is very real, but it must only be considered with the understanding that key changes have to take place in relation to several policy issues.”
“Our party identity must not be submerged with the other parties before polling day so that voters can make clear decisions on what we represent.”
He reiterated his call for a Government carbon tax to fund energy alternatives to oil and gas.
Describing the weekend event as a "General Election" Convention, Mr Sargent predicted delegates will be in an upbeat mood.
The gathering will see more public representatives than at any previous time.
Despite losing its two MEPs last year, it nearly trebled its number of councillors to 29.
Party delegates will be also addressed by former Finnish Green Party Environment Minister Pekka Haavisto on the theme ‘Greens in Government’.
Other Convention motions seek to extend the leader’s tenure from two to five years and hold automatic leadership contests six months after a general election.
Mr Sargent’s keynote Leader’s Address on Saturday evening will not be televised by RTE as the party’s 3.8% national representation is under the required 5% threshold.
