Extract from speech to the AGM of the Galway Greens
Speech delivered by John Gormley TD at the Westwood Hotel, 5th September 2006
The Green Party has always had influence disproportionate to its size. Look at how we have already changed the political agenda. We were the first party to call for the closure of Sellafield while other parties didn’t actually see it as an issue; the first party to call for the banning of the bituminous coal in Dublin; the first to call for the plastic bag levy; the first party to call for light rail.
The Greens were the first party to call for tertiary treatment of sewage going into Dublin Bay. Eventually parties listened but they have very slow reaction time. In dealing with the greatest challenge now facing humanity we cannot afford to waste time, we cannot afford short-term thinking and incompetence.
I simply don’t believe that Fianna Fáil is serious about tackling the issue of climate change. They have capitulated, as one might expect, to the construction industry who has built thousands of badly insulated houses and badly planned estates, forcing people to commute longer distances using their cars. This is the same construction industry which contributes handsomely to Fianna Fáil coffers.
Their conversion to Green thinking is belated and lacks credibility. Equally, it has to be said that the failure of Fine Gael and Labour to recognise that climate change requires an all-Party approach is disappointing. It requires the Greens in government to address fundamentally quality of life issues. We are the quality of life Party and it is only our presence in government that will make the difference.
On coalition, as you know, the Party at its annual conventions has made a number of decisions in relation to coalition options. We have definitively ruled out a pre-election pact with any other party. We have also stated very clearly that we want rid of the present Fianna Fáil/PD administration. Our aim is to get the best possible deal for those who vote for the Green Party and for the party membership. And ultimately it is the party membership who will decide who are future coalition partners will be. We have said repeatedly, and I say it again this evening, that we are a party of government; a party that has delivered in other countries such as Finlandand Germanywhile in government. We are a party that is dynamic, creative, and innovative; a party that is positive in its outlook and offers solutions for the problems of the twenty-first century.
But we know only too well that we can only really deliver our agenda if in government. We want to deliver on a wide range of issues such as health and education. At the end of September we will publish our Primary Health Care policy and follow it up with two other health documents, which will reform our health service over a period of ten years. This is a realistic time frame in which to reform the health system, which is beset with many complex problems. However, real reform of primary health care and addressing the bed capacity deficits within the system are essentially the way forward. This government, on the other hand, believes that the private sector can deal adequately with the bed capacity problem. They are absolutely wrong!
If we were to compare this election campaign to a long distance race - and it is undoubtedly the longest election campaign in the history of the State – then the Greens are ideally placed. We’re tucked in nicely behind the leading pack, waiting for the bell to go. We’ve prepared well for the race. We’ve paced ourselves and have plenty of energy for the final sprint. But politics isn’t just an individual sport. It’s a team effort; a sort of long distance relay and an important member of our team is Niall Ó Brolcháin the new Mayor of Galway. Now you will all know that I am not a born optimist or given to wildpredictions. But I will say this, we are getting very positive feedback indeed in relation to Niall Ó Brolcháin. We are very confident that he can do it at the expense of a government deputy.