Greens make historic decision to organise on an All-Island basis

At a special convention in Dublin the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas removed any constitutional obstacles to the creation of an All-Island Green Party which means that the Green Party of Northern Ireland can now become a regional council of the new All-Island party. The Green Party in Northern Ireland will now meet to agree new organisational structures which will strengthen the links between the Green Party /Comhaontas and the Green Parties in Scotland, England and Wales.

Green Party/Comhaontas Glas Leader, Trevor Sargent TD, said that "today’s decision is in keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. The Green Party / Comhaontas Glas has taken a decision to remove any obstacles toward greater cooperation between the Green Party of Northern Ireland and its sister party in the Republic. I welcome this move, particularly at a time when the Good Friday Agreement is under such enormous strain. The Green Parties across this island are determined to send the strongest signal of full support for the Good Friday Agreement and for a lasting peace among all traditions."

Green Party of Northern Ireland Leader, Dr. John Barry said that "this is an historic and exciting development. The Green Party of Northern Ireland will now go back to its membership to consider the appropriate changes needed to implement the motion to create an All-Island organisation with strong North-South links as well as East-West dimensions. This is an innovative and bold development geared toward being as inclusive as possible to all political traditions. The motion passed today is based upon an evolutionary logic of greater cooperation and allows the Green Party to be unique in not just supporting the Good Friday Agreement but actually living it though its new organisational structures. This development should enable Greens to make their contribution to the Peace Process by getting Green candidates elected."

Information:

Trevor Sargent TD: 087 254 7836

Dr. John Barry: 0044-7876597900

Stephen Rawson Press Officer: 087 235 7551

Agreed Motion:

1. The Green Party in Northern Ireland has proposed new organisational structures which will strengthen the links between itself and the Green Parties in Scotland, England and Wales and ourselves Comhaontas Glas. We welcome this strengthening of links and will therefore amend our own organisational constitution to incorporate these structures. This means that the Green Party in Northern Ireland will be a region of the Green Party of this Island and of these Islands from the date which will be agreed by the National Executive Council following a general meeting of the Green Party of Northern Ireland to confirm their agreement.

2. From this date, all members of the Green Party of Northern Ireland will become members of the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas as well as members of the other Green Parties in these Islands, subject to -in Comhaontas Glas- the same requirements for voting rights as existing members of the GP/CG, that is, they must have paid a subscription for the current year either to the GP/CG and / or the GPNI and they must be a member of either party for 6 months to be entitled to vote.

3. Members in Northern Ireland may organise themselves into Constituency Groups that will apply, on the recommendation of the GPNI, to the NEC for recognition in accordance with the party’s constitution.

4. This Convention requests National Council to create a Regional Council for the Northern Ireland area and to set an annual subscription rate for membership in sterling.