Green leader:A commitment to cleaning up politics would be an "acid test" for Green Party participation in government, its leader, Trevor Sargent, has said.
Speaking at the party's final press conference, Mr Sargent said that the Greens were committed to removing the temptation towards corruption because of the inflated price of rezoned land. A ban on corporate donations would also be a measure of whether a new government was serious about reform.
Flanked by 15 of his party candidates, Mr Sargent appealed to voters sympathetic to the party's policies to give Green candidates their number one vote. However, he provided no clear direction to supporters on what to do with their lower preferences.
His party's conference had decided to contest the election independently, and that ruled out a transfer pact. However, supporters had heard what the Green policy position was, and they could identify which parties were more compatible with it.
Mr Sargent reiterated the party's emphasis on the issues of climate change, education and energy. Asked to predict the outcome of the election for his party, he said that eight seats would be "a very good day" and 10 seats would be "a better day".
Party chairman John Gormley said that the last two polls had the party at 6 per cent and 8 per cent. It was the best-planned and most consistent campaign the party had run.
Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown TD Ciarán Cuffe said that party candidates were getting a "fantastic reaction" on the doorsteps.
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