Boyle: Only way is up for Greens

Green Party chairman Dan Boyle said the local and European elections represented the party’s lowest point.

He was speaking in Neptune Stadium last night after being eliminated on the second count.

Senator Boyle was seeking a seat in the European Parliament but received just 3% of the vote.

Nationwide, support for the Green Party has plummeted and they have lost 14 seats. The party has no local representation in Dublin or Cork and looks set to finish these elections with just three councillors.

“It is our nadir. The only way we can go is up,” said Senator Boyle.

“However, I am optimistic for the future. I drew comfort by the fact that we received our biggest vote ever in this European election.”

Despite the poor showing throughout the country, he said the party saw a drop of 1% in its vote and that a similar increase in any future election would see them in a better position.

Asked about the party’s future in Government with Fianna Fáil, Senator Boyle said the planned review of the Programme for Government was critical.

“The engagement by Fianna Fáil needs to be sincere. There needs to be real change and if there isn’t that will raise further questions. It will be an interesting few months,” he added.

Senator Boyle received 15,499 first-preference votes, ahead of the two Independent candidates Alexander Stafford (Limerick) and Maurice Sexton (Kerry) but behind the second Fianna Fáil candidate Ned O’Keeffe.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.