FAILED MOTIONS:THE GREEN Party will not explore the merits of a national government after delegates at its annual convention rejected two motions calling for such an arrangement.
The first motion calling for immediate negotiations with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin was defeated by a sizeable margin.
However, the second motion from the South Belfast Greens, calling on the leadership to consider the merits of a national government was actually approved by a small majority of delegates: 55 per cent.
The measure was not adopted as the party’s constitution requires two-thirds approval for such change.
Brendan McCann of Waterford, who proposed one of the motions, said it was time for the party to be pro-active and there was a current mood among the public that would welcome a government of unity.
The proposer of the other motion, Peter Doran from Belfast, said passing the motion would provide an opportunity for the Greens to discuss this scenario without necessarily committing to it. However, several other speakers, including Arthur Doohan, said a national government would force the party to give up half its Cabinet positions.
Former MEP Patricia McKenna told delegates that a national government would be a better alternative than a general election and would force the parties to work for the good of the public rather than in their own narrow interests.
Dún Laoghaire TD Ciarán Cuffe said that he supported the Belfast amendment that the Greens be open to discussing the possibility of national government.
However, he added that the onus on the party was to lead from within Government.
In his speech, Senator Dan Boyle said bankers guilty of white-collar crime should be imprisoned to restore confidence in the banking system. He called for those who are the subject of Garda or State investigations to have all payments suspended.
“There should be no hangers-on from a system that has failed so miserably, and those under investigation should have any payments suspended until investigations into their actions are completed,” he said.