Former Greens call on the Green Party to withdraw from Government

by Harry Richards Mon Jun 01, 2009 22:29

Good to see Patricia McKenna break from the Green Party and call on people really concerned with environment and other issues to also break with them. If there are any genuine people left in the Green Party (I personally doubt there are) then they should also leave the Greens.

How does Patricia McKenna call on her supporters to continue transfers? Personally I think that Joe Higgins should get the 2nd preference from supporters of Patricia.

by MARGARET Mon Jun 01, 2009 23:18

"the government has no mandate to go ahead with NAMA " nor has it a mandate to go ahead with a much bigger act of Economic Treason, the Giveaway of our natural resources,our gas and oil supported by GORMLEY & RYAN.
Rather than pull out of Government the "Green ministers " will join Fianna Fail.
We should Nationalise our GAS/OIL , To be developed for the good of the people of IRELAND .[Let the banks look after themselves ,they have screwed us for too long.]
Patricia Mckenna had the courage of her convictions,I wish her well.

by Patricia McKenna Tue Jun 02, 2009 14:22 votemckenna at gmail dot com

Patricia McKenna would like to clarify that she currently has absolutely no affiliation to any political party.
McKenna said “There have been rumours circulating that I may be affiliated to a certain political party. I would just like to make very clear that I am an independent candidate in the European elections and am not currently affiliated to, nor a member of any political party.”

She continued stating that, “my independence from party politics is something that my supporters and I hold in high regard. It is one of the many reasons why we believe that I would be a good MEP for Dublin as I would be free to act in the best interest of Dublin and Ireland in Europe.”

by Rational Ecologist Tue Jun 02, 2009 15:02

As a former Green Party Member I share Patricia's concerns, however, I do believe that the Green's entered into a pact with FF with good intentions. I do think it is time to either revisit the programme for Govt or leave. Top of the GPs list should be the theft of our national resources, Corrib being the main point.
We have to blame a lazy electorate that voted in large numbers for FF and who are crying now. The last 2 years have been the direct outcome of the policies of the " Celtic Tiger ".
This counrty is bankrupt-politically, morally and financially.

by Mike - Judean Popular Peoples front Tue Jun 02, 2009 22:35

The "former greens" are the ones that ARE in government

by Harry Richards Tue Jun 02, 2009 23:42

Fair point about the former Greens are the ones in Government.

Where is Patricia giving her 2nd preference? Or where will her supporters that may be placing their 2nd preferences?

by Poppin da question Wed Jun 03, 2009 00:40

Here is Question 26 in an Indian general knowledge quiz site:

26. Who are running for Fine Gael in the european elections for Ireland south?
a. Kay Dawson and Philomena Hannigan
b. Patrick O'Driscoll and Fanahan McSweeny
c. Colm Burke and Sean Kelly
d. Bertie Ahern and Mary Poppins

In Ireland East 'd' would'a been a shoe-in. In India they seem to have a canny insight into Irish politics.

Try the Quiz here; http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/General-Knowledge-Quizze...z.asp

First prize is a trip to the Kashmir ceasefire line.

by Janus Wed Jun 03, 2009 02:48

Patricia McKenna speaks of holding our current flock of politicians to account.
She speaks of their betrayal of workers, children, people who have suffered abuse,
"the elderly", the vulnerable, the voters and many other sections of society too many
by far to be listed here.
She speaks of their betrayal of animal welfare, environment, national assets and
many other issues too many by far to be listed here.

If she is elected.....?
It would then be wise of us to ensure that she herself is very strictly held to account.
It would be wise of us to be watchful of this woman and her representation of "us the people" in Europe.

And if she is not elected.....?
It would be wise of us to be watchful of this woman and her utterances whilst not representing "us the people" in Europe.
It would be wise of us to be watchful of this woman and the utterances of her close aquaintances.

Yes it would be wise of us to watch carefully the woman who would be free.

For how else can we learn what freedom really is except by watching, listening to, and emulating the free.
In fact we should not just watch and listen, we should protect and nurture such people.
It is by supporting people like her that we will send a loud message to the web of betrayal / betrayers which is
ensnaring Europe and its people - Europe and its people being you.

As for the present flock ?
It would be unfair to say that the current flock have their heads buried in the sand for we all
know that they have not been blinded by sand but, rather, by the contents of their wallets!

Indeed it would be wise.
But, I fear, only the wise will continue to listen and only the unwise will continue lead.

by Ishmael Lemass Thu Jun 04, 2009 20:18

not a chance of them leaving Government . . . unless Ciaran Cuffe starts hankering for his old job at DIT and himself and Paul Gogarty hop on a tandem and declare themselves "independent"

the greenflies understand this is their only chance in the short term of influencing government policy. Their priorities are local government reform and climate change. They will use the duration of the parlez-ment to introduce policies to promote those priorities. They will go along with the eFFers on most everything else.

the greatest threat to the stability of the Govt lies within the shamed ranks of unloved backbench eFFers. But they know they'll be out of power in the event of an election. So they'll stay 'til 2012, and so they should.

the blueshirts could have formed a govt in 2007 if they had the will to engage with the Shinners. But they preferred opposition ranting to the responsibility of power sharing. the greenflies would have danced with the blueshirts and the pinkos.

so let them stay in 'til 2012. let the greenflies get as many policies through as they can. There'll be no election until there's a climate change law, local government reform and a significant change to renewable power.

you heard it here first boys and girls,
is mise, le meas

by Shoegirl Mon Jun 08, 2009 14:10

Here is a better idea. Since the "Green party" no longer represent the environmental view, why do its members stay within the party? The current party happily sold out their entire objective in order to gain power, they will continue to do that.

I think it would be far more productive for members to leave the party, and if possible, either start a new party or work on a non-party basis.

by pat aherne - the green party Wed Jul 15, 2009 08:28

Hi all

the Green Party should stay in now that we are there for the full term.Why?
Well no agenda can be properly implemented in 2.5 years. It is also a testing ground for green party policies. Are they real or ideal.

Some of these are

Does peak oil actually exist the way I have heard it described within the Green Party? In government the green party can plan for this eventuality through the Green Minister Eamon Ryan.

How effective is alternative energy? Can it contribute significantly to Irish job creation?

A solid state economy, a new economic theory that would take years to sell to a european electorate and impossible to sell to an Irish one who are totally brainwashed to believe in the boom and bust economic model, as presented by all of the other political parties in Ireland. What,s this? Well its a set of principles that intend to do away with the "development at any cost idea"and introduce a system of checks that will only allow development providing such development is in harmony with the environment and for a more equal global distribution of wealth.

Is global warming a result of green house emissions as the green party believe it is or from some other source?These I believe are the result of :

Heating of buildings. Green Minister for the Environment John Gormley has been active on this.

Cooling of buildings.Does n't effect us really much but globally yes.

Car emissions. Both ministers have been active on this.

How real are they? They are spoken of like dogma in the Green Party.

and most importantly the greens in government will have time to influence at national and european level the results of the Copenhagen Climate change conference.

Whilst of global benefit (more important really) the above does not translate into macro economic benefit unless its translated into jobs.

If you care about your planet rather than your pocket the green party is the best way forward. It is human nature however to see the immediate situation in terms of problems rather than benefits. I think the Green party are good, well intentioned people as a grouping. I hope to see its policies translate into law and society and ultimately to the benefit of us all.

With this I will consider the term in government of the green party a term well spent.

Mise le meas

pat aherne

Green party waterford

by former green voter Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:10

Pat, they are faciliatating a motorway through a heritage site, a refinery for gas which will turn into a hub for the exploitation of carbon based fuel, and an incinerator.

Not to mention the ESB opening new coal based power stations. So their commitment to fighting global warming seems lukewarm at best.