LEADER'S ADDRESS:An edited version of John Gormley's address to the Green Party convention in Wexford at the weekend.
FRIENDS, IT’S wonderful to be in the historic town of Wexford.
We meet, unfortunately, at one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history. This recession is not a normal part of the economic cycle; it cannot be compared to the 1950s or to the 1980s; it is much, much worse.
Its consequences for people will be more profound and long-lasting. It is the suddenness and pace of this global recession that has taken people by surprise. Very few people remain unaffected by the huge increases in unemployment, by the lack of credit in our banks, by the reductions in their pay packets.
People are uncertain, fearful and understandably angry. But in this time of insecurity and confusion I believe that people want and are ready for the truth. And the truth is this: We don’t have a public sector Ireland and a private sector Ireland; we are one country.
The truth is that our guards, nurses and teachers and public servants are the backbone of our society and we value their contribution. The truth is that our small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs and overseas companies are the backbone of our economy and we need them.
The truth is that if we do not work together, if we do not act decisively and quickly, our country faces a crisis beyond our comprehension.
We have a choice. We can choose to be swallowed up by the negativity, to be paralysed by fear, or we can come out fighting as one nation. And if we work together we will come through, we will prevail and we will emerge from this crisis with a stronger, fairer and more just society. We will also have a smarter, more dynamic and greener economy. We know that this crisis was caused by corporate greed and irresponsibility. The Green Party did not get us into this mess – but we will get us out of it.
It requires radical thinking, radical solutions. And we Greens know that the word “radical” in its truest sense does not mean “extreme”. It means going back to the root causes of a problem.
It means not just tinkering with the system – but completely overhauling it. And surely one of the causes of the problem is the link between big business and politics.
The Opposition speaks about “bailing out banks and builders”. But who took money from the banks and the builders? It wasn’t just Fianna Fáil – but also Fine Gael and the Labour Party.
But there is one political party in this State that has never received a cent from any bank or any building company. That party, I am proud to say, is the Green Party.
We are not compromised and we will break the link between big business and politics. That is why I intend, as Minister for the Environment, to introduce legislation to stop political donations from the big corporations, to restrict the spending of money by political parties between elections and to reduce the limits at which donations have to be declared.
It will be the most radical piece of legislation on political funding ever. Let’s have a level playing field in our political and justice systems.
Because more than ever, what people want now is fairness and justice. They can bear the pain as long as those who caused this problem do likewise.
But so far they don’t see enough of the burden-sharing. What they see are the golden handshakes for the banking bosses and the [Financial] Regulator.
They see inequality in our justice system where someone who steals food from a supermarket can be convicted in a court and even sent to jail. Yet those who caused such terrible damage to our international reputation can still lead the high life.
My message to the white-collar criminals – with their champagne and caviar lifestyle – is very simple: You won’t get away with it. You will be pursued. You will be held to account. You will face the full rigours of the law. And you will pay for what you have done to our country.
We have provided real leadership during the banking crisis. We insisted that there would have to be a series of resignations from the banks –
and that has happened. We said that the regulator would have to go and that has happened. We have called for a cap on the salaries of banking executives. And – believe me – this will happen.
We have outlined the key changes which are now required in our banks. We need a new regulatory system. We must aspire to the most rigorous system of regulation in the world. We also need a new regulator, someone of international repute, and someone not from within the current system.
We have also insisted on cuts in the expenses for elected representatives. Since I said that, on January 24th last in Drogheda, some progress has been made. But not enough.
It is now time for all of the political parties in Dáil Éireann to play their part. They need to lead by example and show those people currently feeling the pain that the political class will play its part.
Our new planning legislation and planning guidelines will mean well-built, sustainable communities, close to public transport, close to schools and other amenities.
We as Greens know that good planning is good for the economy. Bad planning costs us all. Urban sprawl leads to longer commuting times, sucks the life out of town centres, and puts extra costs on taxpayers. Inappropriate development has severe environmental consequences. In these tough economic times bad planning is a luxury we simply cannot afford.
As Minister, I have set out guidelines on sustainable development of our cities, towns and villages. These guidelines set high standards for the quality of our built environment and map out how our urban areas will develop. I published guidelines on planning and flood risk which will end reckless development on flood plains.
Our new planning Bill will end opportunist land rezoning. It will ensure consistent planning policies at a local, regional and national level. It will do away with the need for the type of interventions I had to make in Mayo, Monaghan and elsewhere.
I will also be tackling rogue developers. In the past some developers have thumbed their nose at the system knowing that they’d probably get away with it. If they happened to build without planning permission, they could always just apply for retention. Maybe the courts would impose a fine, but in many cases this would be minuscule compared to the profits to be made from playing fast and loose with the system.
I will change all that.
My new planning legislation will make rogue developers pay punitive fees to retain unpermitted buildings if they have flouted the rules. I will also abolish the loophole which allowed developers to use the planning retention system to avoid carrying out environmental impact assessment.
The new planning legislation will also simplify the planning system for offshore renewable energy projects, while enhancing public participation. Our pledge is this: good planning based on people’s need – not developers’ greed.
Cuireann aois an pháirtí iontas ar go leor daoine atá den tuairim gur páirtí nua an é an Chomhaontas Glas. Bíonn iontas orthu go bhfuil muid ar an bhfód beagnach aon triú cuid do stair na tíre seo.
Cé gur thóg sé tamaill orainn áit a bhaint amach i lár an aonaigh, tá marc láidir an Chomhaontais Glas le feiceáil
ar an 30ú Dáil.
As a party which has functioned for almost one third of this State’s history, and is linked to an international movement, the Green Party has made a strong contribution to Irish public life. Given our background, we understand the need for a strong political opposition.
But these are extraordinary and perilous times – in fact the Irish State is in a bigger danger of losing its prosperity and independence than at any other stage since the Civil War. So, tonight I repeat my call to the other political parties to enter dialogue on mapping the way forward. Yet, again I ask them to shelve party and personal career interests and make common cause in finding a way of protecting our people and our economy.
We in the Green Party are willing to work together with other parties to achieve a national consensus on these issues.
We will do whatever is necessary – even if it means losing some power – because right now the needs of the country are greater than the needs of any political party.
I appeal to the Opposition parties to stop the bickering and the grandstanding and the opportunism. You know an election is not going to solve our economic woes. You know the same tough decisions will have to be made regardless of who is in government.
This Government can make those decisions. But at this time I do not have confidence in an adversarial system which distorts the truth and simply confuses people.
Is léir do chách go bhfuil an Rialtas ag plé le géarchéim eacnamaíochta atá ar leibhéal domhanda faoi láthair . . . D’éirigh leis an Comhaontas Glas chuid mhaith d’ár bpolasaí féin a chuir chun cinn.
Leanfaidh muid leis an obair seo mar go gcreideann muid gurb chun leasa na Tíre na polasaí atá againn.
Is oth liom, agus muid ar fad ag iarradh teacht i dtír an ngéarchéim atá linn faoi láthair, go bhfuil páirtí an fhreasúra ag baint úsáid polaitíochta as seo.
Tá mise don tuairim gurb fhearr i bhfad dóibh, agus don Tír, iarracht a dhéanamh anois tarraingt ar na maidí leis na páirtí eile ar fad san Oireachtas.
Whatever view the Opposition parties take in the coming weeks, I know that the Green Party will with all urgency begin work on rebuilding our economy by working to sustain jobs and create new jobs.
We understand how important it is to make Ireland competitive again. That is why Minister [for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources] Eamon Ryan announced only this week that electricity and gas prices for hard-pressed families and businesses would be cut. And there will be other measures as we make progress on the road to recovery.
We will continue work on developing Ireland as a low-carbon economy. That means Ireland can also be one of the most competitive economies in the world.
Our local election candidates have been working hard for months and years delivering to local communities. Come the local elections our candidates will be able to say that the Green Party is acting locally. A new White Paper on local government will deliver the type of reform that this country needs. Underpinning this reform will be proposals to stimulate our economy and to deliver jobs.
All of us in the Green Party parliamentary party – myself included – learned our political trade in the local councils. I am very proud of our councillors. You have not seen them in Dublin Castle answering questions about bribes and planning corruption. You have not seen them on RTÉ's Prime Timeprogramme attempting to justify decisions that have seen our villages and towns destroyed by overdevelopment and unsuitable development.
My friends, the Green Party will do the right thing. We will be part of the cure. And we will get Ireland back on the road to recovery.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.