Sargent insists Greens are 'good for business'

Green Party policies of encouraging tourism, technology and renewable energy resources would be good for Dublin, the party's leader told a conference today.

Mr Trevor Sargent told a meeting of Dublin Chamber of Commerce this morning that if elected to Government, his party would concentrate on improving public transport and encouraging hi-tech industries.

"Employment in Dublin is mainly in services industries, creative industries, tourism, administration and new high-tech companies, all of which would thrive in a green economy," he said.

He said the Greens would build a Metro to the airport, extend the Luas and build an interconnector rail link between Spencer Dock and Heuston Station. It would also push for a directly elected Mayor to co-ordinate major infrastructural projects across the city.

The Greens would address the waste crisis by encouraging sustainable living. Central to this would be increased investment and tax incentives for wind, biomass, tidal and other renewable energy resources, he said.

Mr Sargent added that the Greens supported a campaign lobbying the Government to introduce a site-value tax on all property except primary residences. This tax, which alleviate the "unfair burden" on businesses, could yield up to €2 billion a year. This contrasts with the current system of commercial rates, which generates half that amount annually.

The Greens leader also repeated his party's wish to see the adoption of a carbon tax. He said this idea, which was supported by the ESRI, would be an effective way of changing fuel consumption patterns and of encouraging energy efficiency.

He said revenue from the tax should be recycled by way of lower VAT, lower employment PRSI rates and higher social welfare contributions.