GREEN PARTY Minister Eamon Ryan has expressed confidence that he and party leader John Gormley will be left in their current departments in next month's Cabinet reshuffle. Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent, reports.
Speaking in advance of the Green Party's Dundalk conference, Mr Ryan said both he and Mr Gormley have significant lists of policy initiatives to come in coming months. While the selection of a Cabinet is "the constitutional prerogative" of the taoiseach, Mr Ryan was hopeful that Fianna Fáil leader designate Brian Cowen would not make changes. The share-out of ministerial offices was agreed in face-to-face talks last year between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the then Green Party leader Trevor Sargent.
In reality, the threat that either would be moved is remote, or nil, particularly since Mr Cowen will not want to damage relations with Coalition partners.
Acknowledging that Mr Cowen was a tough negotiator during last year's programme for government negotiations, Mr Ryan said: "You wouldn't respect someone if they weren't playing hardball." The Green Party's weekend conference will be faced with a call by the party's Dublin Mid-West organisation to "censure" the leadership for "the very slow progress to date on dealing with issues of importance, particularly in relation to the environment". However, the leadership has put down a counter-motion, which is to be strongly supported by over a dozen speakers.
The Green Party will reiterate its support for the provision of ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) for children with autism, according to a party statement. While recognising the merit in an integrated schooling system, the Green Party recognises that some autistic children would benefit more from the ABA model.
"The Green Party is dedicated in government to improvements in the provision of ABA nationwide, while we appreciate that 12 schools are funded under the programme for government, we also see the need for a nationwide approach. The Greens respect the ethos of those working with autistic children and recognises the improvements which have been delivered by Government."
The Green Party calls on Minister for Education Mary Hanafin to engage with all the stakeholders in this area including schools, health boards etc and most importantly parents and families of autistic children to form an integrated policy based on early diagnosis, intervention and respect," it says.
The Greens will also strongly support "the fundamental and unquestionable human right" of same-sex couples to marry and complain about "the continuing failure" to treat them equally. Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan is working on a Civil Partnerships Bill, which will given legal, property and pensions protections to same-sex couples, but not allow a marriage ceremony. Urging Mr Lenihan to draft such legislation, the motion said a constitutional amendment should be put to the people if it is found in the future that the legislation breaches the existing Constitution.