Poised to float to victory with the 'Green tide'

Delegates:Delegates expressed their confidence that the party will catch a "Green tide" in this year's general election. Party chairman John Gormley declared: "I cannot bear the thought of another five years in opposition".

"We are being taken seriously this time," said Celine O'Donovan from Cork South West, chairwoman of the party's animal welfare policy group.

She was confident that in five years people would not be criticising the Green Party for failing to implement political promises if in government.

"We will all be so concerned about energy, climate change and oil that people will be glad the Greens are there."

Johnny O'Mahony from Cork South Central, who campaigns for finance spokesman Dan Boyle, was one of three party members who cycled from Dublin to Galway for the conference. He believed the party would do well if people come out to vote.

"It's like relying on the spectators at a match to win it. We're depending on the electorate. Our issues are there. We are serious about them, and if people come out then maybe we could double our number of TDs."

Aidan Berry from Galway said the Greens "are the first political party I ever joined. They are serious about the issues I am interested in and they have integrity." He believed "people have turned a corner when things like family, community and the need for a more caring environment are important".

Frank Sullivan from Salthill, Galway, a former member of the PDs, joined the Greens a year ago.

"If the PDs had not done anything on green issues before now, there's no reason to believe they will do it now."

Mary Reddy Nolan, who canvasses for Cllr Mary White, is confident that she will be Carlow/Kilkenny's first female TD. Formerly a member of Fine Gael, she said "the bottom line is that if people don't come out and vote, things won't change".

A similar opinion was expressed by Marion Shiel from Dublin West, who joined the party in September. It was time to join "because I sat back, lay back and did nothing and watched my country be destroyed".

Paul Kennedy works with party leader Trevor Sargent and used to volunteer at his Fingal office from the age of 10 or 11.

His preferred partners in government are Fine Gael and Labour, but he adds: "If it's Fianna Fáil - well, they've been in power for years. They know the ropes."