Eamon Ryan subscribes to a concept, one might say, that likens climate politics to the ebb and flow of ocean tides. “Just like waves, it continues to surge and recede”, he articulates from his office at the Government Buildings, readying himself for the imminent Green Party national convention.
According to him, on his political debut in the late ’80s, a profound environmental awareness was prevalent. Although this consciousness has wavered since then, he is certain it will resurface due to the pressing reality of climate change that is being faced today.
Ryan feels the urgency to not abide by the theoretical tides and wait for the Green Party’s power to restore naturally. He asserts, “We can’t afford to dawdle. The time to act on climate change can’t be deferred.”
His conviction about his purpose and the strategy to achieve it is evident in his demeanor. But what counts is whether the electorate echoes these sentiments.
To gain the voters’ approval, it’s crucial to demonstrate that the Greens’ governmental tenure has yielded tangible results. Almost all TDs and Senators attribute the increased childcare grants to Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman – a claim other Coalition parties are allegedly keen to make.
“Our victory has numerous patrons. There’s a flood of people taking credit for lower childcare costs – but that was Roderic’s doing,” Party whip Marc Ó Cathasaigh claims.
Róisín Garvey, a Clare-based Green Senator, jokes, “Even our members are unsure of what we’ve accomplished”. She attributes their ignorance to a media inclination towards scandalous news over good news, concurring that “our positive actions are often falsely credited to other parties”.
Even so, Ryan seems relatively composed about this, lauding O’Gorman’s policy as “an outstanding political achievement which understandably government colleagues are flocking to take the credit for”.
However, he refrains from making any promises about further reductions in childcare costs. Last week, an undisclosed senior Green Party source suggested that parental support is likely to increase next year. Even so, it is unlikely that O’Gorman will mention anything in today’s speech and is believed that he is keen to introduce reforms for underprivileged and disabled children, which will require funding.
Ryan doesn’t express overwhelming support for the concept of further action on childcare costs, a matter he considers to be largely within O’Gorman’s purview, and something that should be addressed closer to budget time. He suggests that if he had to allocate resources, he would choose to direct them towards housing solutions. He points out that childcare expenses have been reduced by half. He feels that the issue of how to provide additional support for families with children is intrinsically linked to housing costs. This connection allows parents of young children, a period he acknowledges as challenging, the liberty to make their decisions. This, he asserts, can be achieved universally through ongoing housing efforts.
Ryan appears to be at odds with his coalition partners’ readiness to pledge budget giveaways prior to April, noting it as a “political difficulty” with colleagues “pledging a myriad of things” and outlining a “broad slate of budget commitments” after the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil conferences. With the elections on the horizon, Ryan concedes that it is likely that a more challenging and tense phase in government is in place.
Hitting his 14th year as the party leader, Ryan holds a belief that the Irish populace is naturally environmentally conscious. This belief is backed by studies from the Environmental Protection Agency indicating that 85 per cent of people believe more climate change initiatives are needed. In 2022, he forecasted one in ten voters would rally behind the Green party. This continues to be his perspective of the party’s natural place, though he currently suggests a 6 or 7 per cent score in local and European elections would be a favourable outcome.
During the 2020 general election, the party garnered more than 7 per cent of the vote, and exit polls indicated a 12.9 per cent race in Dublin, where two-thirds of its 12 TDs are located. The party maintained part of this momentum in Government, consistently polling above 5 per cent, prior to a dip in the late 2021 and early 2022.
The Green party’s backing in Dublin in February was a promising 10%, up from a previous low of only 3%, revealing progress in their public support. Party whip and Waterford TD, Ó Cathasaigh, stresses the difficulty of communicating their accomplishments to the populace in a meaningful, relatable manner. This is despite the significant structural reforms and tangible changes brought about by the party, which often seem to garner less acknowledgment than they deserve.
The general consensus amongst Green party members is that they would receive more recognition if people comprehended the depth of their work. Failure to adhere to the EU nature conservation law, warns Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, could have wide-ranging effects. He emphasises that it requires approximately six to nine months of preparation to come up with a viable government programme, highlighting the need for thorough examination and understanding of a party’s core desires during negotiation.
Ryan, who refrains from the practice of auction politics, doesn’t shy away from endorsing certain policies. He opines that the reduced public transportation fares, in place until the end of the year, should not face an increase prior to the ensuing election. Furthermore, he expresses support for the expansion of Green-driven sectoral policies, among which features a basic income pilot programme for the arts industry.
The party’s strategy is to persuade the electorate to stay committed to green principles, underscoring the benefits their policies bring to individuals and the environment. They also assert a role in thwarting the rising hard-right movement in Europe as they continue to promote their environmentally-focused agendas. Key talking points will include public transport fares, new rural bus services, retrofitting, domestic solar panels and support for organic farming and forestry.
Furthermore, the Green party will emphasise the benefits of actions like childcare expense reductions, extended parental leave rights, and portray green initiatives in remote work and domestic violence leave. Ryan hints at forthcoming plans for a mechanism to compensate farmers for nature restoration and changes in land usage.
Moving forward, it is suggested that the next administration should be the emphasis. A thorough political analysis is necessary to negotiate a government agenda, which typically takes between six to nine months. According to reports, developing a plan for the decarbonisation of aviation fuel and freight is essential, so as to allow Ireland to reach its climate goals by 2040.
The Green Party has been advised to be “unapologetic” about their environmental values, but also about their push for societal transformation. Ryan echoes this sentiment, reminding his colleagues in the coalition of the understanding with Paschal and Michael McGrath regarding a progressive budget approach, ensuring more benefits for the disadvantaged three deciles than the upper ones.
With the impending election, the Green party have numerous issues to address, a core one being RTÉ’s future funding. According to Ryan, Catherine Martin will provide a solution before summer. However, a disagreement lies in the choice of model, with internal resistance in Fianna Fáil to a treasury-dependent model preferred by the media minister. Ryan is keen on reaching a decision that provides assurance alongside historical significance, promising to support any solution put forth by Martin.
Stereotypes and misconceptions about the Green party being against rural Ireland has fuelled the party’s frustration. Ryan notes the deliberate attempts by some to create a “politics of fear and division.” Countering these claims, Róisín Garvey reiterates the party’s correctness, arguing that those favouring “business as usual” criticise the Greens as they are aware of their inaccuracies.
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