Greens target 16 seats in general election

The Green Party will target up to 16 seats in the next general election if constituency organisations can prove they can put up a serious contest.

Under a strategy document, seen by The Irish Times, the Greens emphasise the need to boost their local profile, and to offer a clearer message to voters.

Explaining the decision to target up to 16 Dáil seats, the Green Party chairman, Dublin South East TD Mr John Gormley, said: "If you are not in with a shout there is no point being in the contest."

Meanwhile, he said the party's national executive is to draw up rules "for ethical fundraising" within a fortnight, although "no decision has been made about corporate funding".

Local fundraising is "critical", said the document. Dealing with finance, it said: "The necessary elements to get elected are good candidates, communication of an attractive message and voter support. These elements cost a lot of money when competition is strong. An energetic fundraising strategy is an urgent priority."

Offering evidence that the Greens would aim to be part of the next government, the strategy document said the national executive council would "develop strict and clear criteria" to govern the allocation of Seanad seats "in the event of participation in government".

The new Seanad rules should be approved by the party's next annual conference.

All candidates and their election teams should be "mobilised" by the end of March, and final convention selections should be completed within six months.

Recommending a "rebranding" of the party's public image within months, the document said the Greens needed to "develop a strategy to avoid being defined by other political parties".

Mr Gormley said the strategy document, which has been under preparation since October, would make the party more focused.

"The party's message will be communicated more effectively at local level. The party does have very good policies, does reasonably good work in the Dáil but we don't have the same opportunity as the larger parties to get that across in the mainstream media."

Setting down a mission statement, the document declared: "The overall objective of the Green Party is to achieve an ecologically sustainable, socially equitable and just society in Ireland through the political process."