The Green Party in the Republic has decided to allow the Green Party in Northern Ireland become a region of an all-island Green Party.
Members of the North's Green Party may also become members of their sister parties in England, Scotland and Wales in what the Green Party of Northern Ireland (GPNI) leader Mr John Barry yesterday called "an exciting and historic development".
The decision to allow the north/south link came at a special convention of the Republic's party - the Green Party/ Comhaontas Glas - in Dublin yesterday. It followed a proposal from the GPNI for the establishment of new organisational structures to strengthen the links between itself and the Green Parties in Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic.
The convention in Dublin removed any constitutional obstacles to the creation of an all- island Green Party. The GPNI can now become a regional council of a new all-island party.
The Green Party in Northern Ireland will now meet to agree new organisational structures to strengthen the links between the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas and the Green parties in Scotland, England and Wales.
The Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent TD, said that "yesterday's decision is in keeping with the spirit of the Good Friday agreement. I welcome this move, particularly at a time when the 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."
GPNI leader, Dr John Barry, said that "this is an historic and exciting development".
The GPNI will now 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 yesterday is based upon an evolutionary logic of greater co-operation 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," he said.