Eamon Ryan hits out at Sinn Féin's green credentials — but says party would still go into government with them

Minister Eamon Ryan said the nature of his party is to work with people

Speaking at the Green Party conference in Cork City today, Mr Ryan said: 'This convention is about getting ready for the local elections and European elections in June next year.' Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Sinn Féin has not shown appropriate interest in protecting the environment, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said.

But he said that his party would go into government with the party following the next general election.

“I think we should be willing to work with all parties.

“That would be a difficult Programme for Government negotiations because, to be honest, Sinn Féin hasn't shown an interest in protecting the environment to the extent that we think is appropriate.

“But we'd sit down with them and try and make that happen.” 

Mr Ryan said that the Green Party “gets on well” with its coalition partners.

Labour and Social Democrats are also easy Green Party bedfellows, he said.

But the nature of his party is to work with people, he said.

The Green Party has set “ambitious targets” aiming to double the party’s seats in the upcoming local elections.

Getting 10% of the vote is not unreasonable and is similar to what Green Parties get in other European countries like Austria and Germany.

I think one in 10 Irish people get this need for this transition. Our job is to convince them that you've got to vote number one, green.

He said that the party now has high-quality, diverse candidates running across the country but he appealed for more people to run for the Green Party in the elections.

There is “real strength, real commitment, real capability” in the party and he wants to see candidates run in every constituency in the country and win seats the Green Party has never won before.

Speaking at the Green Party conference in Cork City today, Mr Ryan said: “This convention is about getting ready for the local elections and European elections in June next year.

“This is what it's all about, that we go into that and we win and we aim to double our seats in local elections."

A “tidal wave” of support for environmental thinking in the previous election has dissipated, he said.

That wave of support is no longer as high as it was, “even though the world is burning" with other challenges, like the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine currently consuming people’s minds, he said.