The Green Party has voted against entering a pre-election pact with any other party at its annual convention in Cork today. The Party also passed a motion which "views with concern the prospect of the party entering coalition government with either of the main established parties".
Speaking at the convention today, Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley attacked the Government, saying the State and big business are now "hand in glove."
"As far as this government is concerned it has always been politics before people, big business before the community and the individual before society," said Mr Gormely.
He attacked the Government for its "scandals, resignations and this sleazy administration" and accused the P.D.s of sacrificing their principles for power.
Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent attacked the Government’s record on the environment, and its failure "to see how a healthy economy is dependent on a healthy environment."
Mr Sargent said the Government’s economic policies measured progress on GNP and GDP regardless of "suicides, rural depopulation, habitat destruction and lack of affordable housing, health and education."
He added: "We support the work of FEASTA, the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability, in developing far better indicators of progress which measure real quality of life issues for real people in the real world."
Mr Sargent also referred to the issue of corruption in Government. "It is often said that Green politics is clean politics," he said. "As a Party which has exposed corruption and fought with many local communities for good planning and improved facilities, Greens have a reputation for honesty, hard work and community involvement."
He outlined the Party’s priorities as high quality public transport and cycleways, ending poverty, refundable tax credits, encouraging parental childcare, preventative medicine and proper health care, tackling the causes of crime and substance abuse, the promotion of indigenous local industry, a new recycling industry, renewable energy, the promotion of village life in rural areas and multi-cultural community life in cities, the protection of small farms, organic farming, forestry which favours a broadleaf timber industry, a Zero Waste strategy and the closure of Sellafield.
The Green Party also voted to create a new position of party cathaoirleach and the creation of a new management committee.