Realism is the key to recovery - Rejuvenating the Greens

THE Green Party had six deputies in the last Dáil, including two cabinet members. Now the party does not have even one representatinve in the Oireachtas.

Like it or not, this means that environmental issues do not get the nuanced, forensic attention they might deserve. It seems obvious but unfortunate that more established parties are less animated by environmental issues than the Greens.

There are many reasons, ranging from apathy to anger, that there are no Greens in the Dáil or Seanad today. The primary one has to be that they propped up a malfunctioning, sleazy Fianna Fáil administration but some of their own policies alienated people who were, and are, very concerned about how we misuse the environment.