Death of the Greens

The Greens leaving Government

The Greens are the only organically grown political party in Ireland since the early days of statehood to gain enough seats to participate in Government. Unlike the PD’s who were a breakaway group from other Irish parties, their political affiliation is to European politics. Ironically the Irish Greens came to prominence as a result of their opposition to EU treaties such as Amsterdam and Nice.

In 2007 the Greens entered a Government cobbled together by Bertie Ahern in coalition with Fianna Fáil and the PD’s. The new Green party leader John Gormley had launched a stinging attack on Bertie Ahern before the election in a speech entitled “Planet Bertie”. He had also been very critical of PD leader Michael McDowell in the run up to that election.

The Greens are not seen to have achieved any major success in Government other than the implementation of new taxes such as the carbon tax. Headline opposition to campaigns such as Shannon, Rossport and Tara went by the wayside as did their opposition to EU treaties. The most disappointing aspect of the Greens involvement in Government was the failure to achieve any significant political reform. Projects such as the directly elected Mayor of Dublin and the proposed banning of corporate donations were not carried through.

Some would say that rumours of the demise of the Greens in Ireland are greatly exaggerated as the party is still in existence. However, with all national representatives turfed out by the public in the 2011 general election and the failure of the party to reach the 2% funding target, it will be a long road back. The other problem faced by the Greens is the evaporation of goodwill towards them as they have been blamed along with Fianna Fáil for the economic meltdown that led to Ireland being bailed out by the International Monetary Fund.

The primary reason for the demise of the Greens is that popularity gained as a result of opposition to previous Fianna Fáil and PD governments, to political corruption and to EU referendums is now no longer valid. If the Greens are to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, they will have to completely reinvent themselves.

The political reform agenda espoused by the Greens is still hugely relevant as is the core green agenda relating to protection of the environment and sustainable living. However, there is a very real question as to whether direct involvement in politics is the best way to further these aims.

While the green agenda is not myopic it is not part of mainstream political thinking either. To paraphrase Michael McDowell, the Greens will have to become radical or remain redundant.