Greens neutral on referendum vote

The Green Party will campaign for neither a Yes vote nor a No vote in the forthcoming referendum on the fiscal treaty, its annual conference decided today.

Supporters of a treaty fell short by about eight votes in getting the required two-thirds majority required under party rules for policy change. That would have allowed the party campaign for a Yes vote.

At its annual conference in Kilkenny today attended by about 150 delegates, 77 members voted in favour of the party adopting a pro-treaty stance, with 48 votes against. In percentage terms, it worked out at 61.2 per cent in favour, some eight votes short of the 66.6 per cent required.

The vote followed a 90-minute debate on the issue, with spirited contributions from both side. The majority of the party leadership, including leader Eamon Ryan, former leader Trevor Sargent, and former TD Dan Boyle, spoke in favour of a Yes vote. Only one of its three elected full councillors, Malcolm Noonan of Kilkenny spoke against.

In his leader's speech to the conference Mr Ryan called for a new political consciousness in Ireland that would not allow people to be "fooled by false promises.

"At what point will we begin listening to politicians who are not afraid to tell the honest truth?" he said.

Mr Ryan told the conference that the both Fine Gael and Labour had spent their years in opposition lying about the opportunities that were available.

"Their legitimacy would have been greatly improved if they had been more honest about the options that were available," he said.

He said that traditional political parties of both right and left had presented "populist solutions" to the problem.

"I don't think the change we need at this time is a return to the right or the left."

He said part of argument advanced by the left was being against property tax, a solution he said was gravel mistaken. Similarly, he asked, how could the right-wing be trusted when "they would not just sell you down the river, they would buy and sell the river in doing so".

He also said that if the future of Europe was decided by a "fireside chat" between a German chancellor and French president, it would mean that the legitimacy of the European project would be lost for ever.

"We need a Green Party perspective across Europe that makes sure the old outdated narrow regressive ignorant view of where Europe should go will be stopped," he said.

He said that this "new politics" would be one that would develop and nurture a cooperative instinct that needed to go beyond the models posited by both capitalists and socialists.

"This is the time that the status quo won't hold. Now is the time to be bold and make a real step change."

He said the best solution was a "natural capitalism" or "green way" that took the best of both left and right wing.

He said it was hard to explain because there were contradictions built in. "It is truly global and also tries to bring power back to the local level. It [embraces] new technology but connects to the natural world. "… It does rely on the markets to deliver our needs… It is comfortable with government ownership but not if its managed in a command and control way

"It respects both science and religion but is sceptical of blind faith in either of them."

On the fate of the Green Party, Mr Ryan said the party has been in retreat. "Let's be honest it's been tough and difficult," he said. He said that the party would need to rebuild with a sense of "humility and humour and also with pride".

Deputy leader Catherine Martin said the party would have to work like it never worked before to win back the trust and confidence of the Irish people.

"This is achievable. We must use this time as a unique opportunity to rebuild our party and become a meaningful force in Irish politics," she said.

Ms Martin, in criticising the Coalition, said: "When you mix red and blue you sure as hell do not get Green." She was particularly critical of the household charge which she said was an indiscriminate drag across the board.

In the debate on the fiscal treaty, those advocating a No vote said supporting the treaty would go against the party's green principles and also argued that the party must once again begin to assert alternative views.

One speaker, John Goodwillie, said many Yes voters did so with reservations "The choices are between austerity which is very bad and austerity which is terrifying. A no vote will only make the likelihood great that austerity will be increased in the future," he said.