John Gormley, Minister of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,

Éamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Trevor Sargent, Minister of State for Food and Horticulture

Goals of the Green Party in Government

Reduce green house gas emissions by 3% annually

Introduce a revenue-neutral carbon levy

Provide support schemes for investment in renewable energy

Ensure houses are more energy efficient

Invest heavily in education funding

Increase organic farmland

Plan sustainable communites

Reform local government and introduce a directly elected Mayor for Dublin with executive powers

Properly fund public transport with focus on rail

Increase the basic pension from 30% of average income to 60%

Link to Programme for Government: www.taoiseach.gov.ie/attached_files/Pdf%20files/NewProgrammeForGovermentJune2007.pdf

The seven principles that the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas adopted at its foundation were elaborated and expanded in the revised 1997 Constitution. They are:

1. The impact of society on the environment should not be ecologically disruptive.
2. Conservation of the resources is vital to a sustainable society.
3. All political, social and economic decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level.
4. Society should be guided by self-reliance and co-operation at all levels.
5. As caretakers of the earth, we have the responsibility to pass it on in a fit and healthy state.
6. The need for world peace overrides national and commercial interests.
7. The poverty of two-thirds of the world's family demands a redistribution of the world's resources.

We Are For...

    * More decision-making at Community level.

    * Open government.

    * A basic income for all citizens.

    * Renewable energy and Recycling.

    * Full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement

    * Workers' Co-ops and small family businesses.

    * Emphasis on public transport.

    * Non-violent direct action.

We Are Against...

    * Pollution of air, sea and land.

    * The depopulation of the countryside and over-crowding in the cities.

    * Control of industry by large national and multinational companies.

    * Nuclear weapons and nuclear power.

    * Land and property speculation.

    * Both state and paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland.

    * The exploitation of the third world.

    * Exploitation of animals.

A Brief History of the Party

Ecology Party in Ireland founded in 1981

Green politics in Ireland first came in the form of social movements protesting against mining, the chemical industry and, most significantly, against nuclear power. The Green Party as we know it today first emerged in Ireland 1981 as the Ecology Party of Ireland (EPI). In March 1982 the party held its first convention in Glencree Reconciliation Centre in Wicklow and it was here that the seven principles of the party were agreed by consensus. These principles still serve the Green Party to the present.

In November 1982 the EPI participated in its first General Election. The party changed its name to the Green Alliance/Comhaontas Glas the following year and it was under this title that Christopher Fettes contested the 1984 European Election in Dublin, gaining 1.9 per cent of the vote (0.3 per cent nationally). Local elections in 1985 gave the party its first electoral success when Marcus Counihan was returned as a member of Killarney Urban District Council.

First Green TD elected in 1989

In 1987 the party again changed its name to the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas. The new name came just in time for the electoral breakthrough of 1989 when Roger Garland became the Party's first TD representing Dublin South. The Greens built on this success and saw 13 councillors elected in local elections in June 1991.

In what was then called Dublin Corporation, the Greens formed a governing coalition - the Civil Alliance - to run the city. An unexpected General Election followed in November 1992 and Roger Garland lost his Dublin South seat, but in the same elections Trevor Sargent was returned in Dublin North.

Major success in the 1994 European Parliament elections

In June 1994, the party pulled off a major achievement securing two out of the 15 available seats in the European Parliament. Patricia McKenna topped the poll in Dublin with 14.5 per cent of first preference votes, and Nuala Ahern was elected with 11.8 per cent in Leinster, enough to secure the final seat. Overall the party received 7.9 per cent nationally, putting it in fourth place behind Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party. The party also made important gains in the Urban District Council elections held the same day.

First Green Mayor of Dublin 1994

Also in June 1994, Dublin City Council elected John Gormley as the city's first Green mayor. Electoral successes continued with the Cork by-elections in October with Dan Boyle, although failing to gain a seat, receiving 16 per cent of the poll in Cork South Central.

General Election 1997– two Green TD's

In May 1997 John Gormley joined Trevor Sargent in the Dáil after he was elected for Dublin South East. He endured a marathon weeklong count to defeat Michael McDowell of the Progressive Democrats by 27 votes.

1999 European Parliament and local government elections.

An even greater achievement was recorded in the 1999 European Elections when Patricia McKenna and Nuala Ahern successfully defended their European Parliament seats. Patricia McKenna took the third seat in Dublin with 12.7 per cent and Nuala Ahern did even better taking the second seat in Leinster with 13.8 per cent. Other polling successes which did not result in seats included Mary White's result in Borris, Carlow, where she topped the poll with 23 per cent, ahead of the Fianna Fail candidate. Eamon Ryan also performed very well in Rathmines, Dublin as did Paul Gogarty in Lucan, County Dublin.

2002 General elections – from two to six

At the 2001 annual convention in Kilkenny Trevor Sargent was elected as the party's first leader and this development, along with structural reforms introduced over the previous five years, better equipped the party to effectively perform at local, national, and European levels. In the 2002 General Election the party added an impressive four seats to its existing two, bringing to the Dáil Eamon Ryan in Dublin South, Paul Gogarty in Dublin west, Ciarán Cuffe in Dun Laoghaire and Dan Boyle in Cork South central.

2004 European Parliament and Local Government elections

A reduction in the number of Ireland's seats in the European Parliament following enlargement of the EU resulted in the Greens losing a seat in Leinster (subsequently renamed the East constituency), despite a strong campaign by Mary White. Patricia McKenna's Dublin seat was also narrowly lost. Countering these losses the party performed very well in the local elections, bringing the total number of town and county Green councillors to 28.

2007 General Elections and entry into government

Mary White joined Trevor, John, Paul, Eamon and Ciarán in the Dáil. Unfortunately Dan Boyle was not re-elected. After negotiations the Party entered government in coalition with Fianna Fáil and with the support of the Progressive Democrats, and a number of Independent TDs. John Gormley was appointed Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Eamon Ryan was appointed Minister for Communications Energy and Natural resources, and Trevor Sargent was appointed Minister of State for Food and Horticulture. Dan Boyle and Deirdre de Burca were appointed as senators in the Irish Parliament's second chamber.

Next National Elections:

Latest Green Party Election Results:

• National Election Year: 2007
  MPs: 6 (2 Ministers)
  Total No. National Votes: 96.936
  % Gained: 4.7
• European Elections: 2004
  MEPs:0
  Total No. European Votes: 76.917
  % Gained: 4,3