Greens in conference - High stakes but very few options

WE ARE, in so many deeply challenging ways, at a crossroads and tomorrow’s meeting of the Green Party to consider a revised programme for government represents just one of the many ongoing exercises to try to decide which path we might take.

Even though a relatively small group of people — far fewer than, say, the Irish branch of the Manchester United supporters’ club — will be involved the meeting’s significance should not be underestimated. It has the capacity to bring this coalition to an end. It also has, thankfully, the capacity to be hugely positive.

The Greens have set out 26 demands on education, most of which involve reversing cuts. It is not overly optimistic to hope that these demands will get a sympathetic hearing, especially as two of the Fianna Fáil negotiating team — Mary Hanafin and Noel Dempsey — have served as ministers for education.