The inaugural Green Party conference possessed elements of both humour and seriousness. The meeting, which took place at the RDS, was kickstarted by the party’s national co-ordinator, Councillor Caitríona Kelly. She addressed some practicalities, such as a notice that attendees who brought reusable cups would receive a 10% reduction on beverages like tea and coffee.
This offer was accepted by a number of participants, with the remaining opting for ceramic cups, eliminating the need for disposable ones. However, the convivial atmosphere was slightly disrupted when Councillor Kelly alerted members to potential disruptions, as the party was on heightened alert following a protest at Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s residence, involving demonstrators in masks.
Parliamentarians were briefed on the course of action that would be taken if any such disturbance arose. Proceedings would be halted for ten minutes, and members were asked not to document the disturbance, should one occur. As it turned out, no interruptions were witnessed and apprehensions regarding protests were put to rest, letting the conference refocus on its primary objective – motivating its members to actively promote the party in local, European and Limerick’s inaugural mayoral elections.
The conference saw an introduction of new, notably young, candidates with a strong focus on public transport. Tate Donnelly, who is contesting from the Carrickmacross/Castleblayney area in Monaghan, voiced his concerns over the discontinued railway service which connected his area to the North, a service that was discontinued half a century ago. He did, however, appreciate the constantly emerging rural bus routes in Monaghan, Cavan, and Donegal.
Ruadháin Bonham, contesting from Ratoath County, Meath, emphasised his ambition to reopen and extend the railway line from Dublin to Navan, and further into Monaghan, Donegal and Derry – a promise that has been unfulfilled for years. He also noted that given Ireland’s youngest ever Prime Minister was in power, and given that a fifth of the population is under 25, the same representation should be reflected in the council.
During a debate on the necessity of Green representatives in councils, Offaly council member Cllr Mark Hackett, the only Green party member in his area, mentioned the forming coalition between the Greens, Fianna Fáil, and Fine Gael. He pointed out that despite a congenial relationship, he wouldn’t want to depend on the other parties. In relation to Dublin City Council, Cllr Janet Horner expressed concern over the council leadership’s habit of making decisions without consulting the council, making the political climate challenging in Dublin.
Cllr Sasa Novak from Limerick expressed that the Greens often face ridicule in the council, especially from rural-based councillors. However, she noted that urban councillors were beginning to appreciate the effectiveness of policies promoting public transport and active travel, which lead to reduced vehicular traffic. Novak pointed out that while the Greens were an easy political target, the ridicule was largely for publicity and unjustified considering the evidence-based nature of the party’s policies and proposals.
Donnacha Geoghegan, who is a candidate for the Donaghmede region in Dublin, emphasised on creating more social spaces. He pointed out an instance when installing park benches faced resistance due to concerns of encouraging antisocial behaviour, counter arguing that without social spaces the youth will be more inclined towards antisocial behaviour.
Lastly, Cllr Marianne Butler from Dundalk South talked about the extensive efforts in retrofitting in Louth county, which doubled the number of homes retrofitted in the previous year. Butler stated her ambition to continue her work until her town and county were both climate change and future proofed.
Diarmaid Griffin, who is vying for a seat in Killarney, articulated that his election campaign centres on improving Killarney’s livability and enhancing town connectivity. As the town is experiencing a surge in its population, there is an increased need for suitable housing complemented with necessary facilities such as efficient sewage system, connectivity to educational institutions and community services.
Carolyn Moore, a former fashion designer and now a councillor for Dublin Kimmarge Rathmines, emphasised the prevalence of “fast fashion” which accounts for 15 billion items annually within the EU. She pointed out the unsustainable nature of this phenomenon, with most items discarded within a year of purchase. She advocated for sustainability, suggesting that the best wardrobe is the one currently owned.
At a forum with the party’s two MEPs, Ciaran Cuffe from Dublin, Grace O’Sullivan from Ireland South and Senator Pauline O’Reilly from Midlands Northwest, Mr Cuffe aired his views on Irish local democracy. He expressed his disapproval over the delay of the plebiscite to decide if Dublin should elect its mayor directly, which was originally slated for June 7th.
He argued that, in keeping with European norms, it is critical to empower local governance in Ireland. The conference concluded with deputy leader of the party, Catherine Martin, urging members to campaign vigorously as the upcoming elections hold immense importance. Eamon Ryan, the party leader, highlighted past victories and expressed optimism. With 44 present councillors across various counties, he envisaged at least one councillor in every county, marking a significant advancement.
The elections on June 7th will test this prediction.