Green Party delegates gather in Waterford

The Green Party is to decide this weekend whether Government should cancel the metro project in Dublin, while the party is also to debate a demand for the property loans of all Oireachtas members to be declared.

Delegates are gathering in Waterford for the Greens' annual national conference this weekend, which comes after the party secured ministries for two-thirds of Green TDs in this week's reshuffle.

Four of the Greens' six TDs are now Ministers in Government.

However a number of contentious motions set for debate at the conference will ensure the mood is not just one of celebration.

One motion to scrap Dublin's metro north and spend the billions on bus transport throughout the country is proposed to be watered down by the leadership.

The party is also proposing new taxes, an end to the teaching of religion in schools, and a requirement that TDs and Senators be required to declare all property loans from financial institutions.

Ahead of the gathering Green Party leader John Gormley insisted the Government was secure, rejecting suggestions that the negative reaction Taoiseach Brian Cowen's cabinet reshuffle this week is creating instability.

"The fact is that we now have our new Programme for Government," Deputy Gormley said.

"What the Government is intent on doing, and what the Green Party as part of that Government wants to see happen, is a concentration on the biggest issue actually facing the country at this moment - that is unemployment.

"In order to do that we require stability. I believe that stability is there and I believe this Government can get the work done," Deputy Gormley said.