[EGP] EGP press release: Irish Greens to join government

14.06.2007

European Greens congratulate Irish Green Party on joining Government with excellent negotiation results

The Spokespersons of the European Green Party today congratulated their member party the Irish Green Party/Comhaontas Glas on joining the Government for the first time.

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said: “ We are delighted that the Irish Greens have successfully negotiated a programme of government with the Fianna Fáil party and that an overwhelming majority (86%) of Green Party members who attended a special convention in Dublin on Wednesday 13^th June voted in favour of the Greens entering a coalition government. We would like to congratulate the negotiating team led by Dan Boyle and John Gormley for having secured commitments for a number of key green policies. Although we are saddened that Trevor Sargent has felt it to necessary to resign as Green Party leader, we would like to pay tribute to the great leadership that he has given the party and hope that he will be able to play some role in the new government.”

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek continued: “The Irish Greens have already achieved several key Green policies during the negotiating process. These include the setting up of a climate change commission, a commitment to reduce Irish greenhouse gas emissions by 3% per year on average, generating a third of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and the installation of “smart electronic meters” in every home which will allow people to cut back on unnecessary use of electricity. In terms of transport policy, rail lines will be reopened in order to reduce road traffic and feasibility studies on trams and light rail will be carried out in several parts of the country. These are important commitments and we are confident that the Greens in government will be able to implement even more green policies. Although we don’t know yet which ministries the Green Party will acquire, we are sure that the Green ministers will be able to further the green agenda in the areas of environmental policy and social as well as global justice.”

Graham Burgess

Communications Officer

European Green Party

email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org

Tel no: +32 2 626 0724

Mobile no: +32 477 902 023