Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the wonderful crowd we have at convention this year, and to thank all of those who have worked tirelessly to get it all put together. Gatherings like this are important. Important for communication, important for morale, and they also serve to re-charge all of our batteries, and motivate us all to go our there and do some great things.
I was elected onto the Executive Committee (EC) at last year’s convention, and was co-opted as chair in July. It was a baptism of fire, and chairing the EC of the Green Party was certainly not on my to-do list for 2017! I wish to thank everyone for their help this past 9 months, particularly the Secretary to the Executive Eoin Wilson, the Green Party Cathairleach Roderic O’Gorman, and the Chair of Policy Council Neasa Hourigan. Thanks also to my Deputy Chair Lorna Bogue who stepped up as my replacement for a couple of months when I had a period of ill health.
Despite this rather turbulent 12 months, this EC has worked well together. The workloads involved were not for the faint of heart; and there have been many challenges, however, we were fortunate to have some strong and well-functioning sub-committees, and with good cooperation among members, progress continued unabated.
I, myself, joined the Green Party just two years ago, initially enticed by the Party’s election manifesto. Much of it resonated with me, and how I chose to live my life, and rear my children. I would like to think that there are many more people like me out there…we just haven’t connected with them yet. I was also greatly impressed by the intelligent, objective and hard working individuals within the Party.
Little did I think two years ago that I would become just so involved. I was never particularly politically motivated, but I guess there is a time and place for everything, and this seems to be my time for politics. It is with regret that I am stepping down from the EC, but there are only so many hours in the day, and so many days in the week. As an active spokesperson on a variety of topics, and an election candidate for Laois-Offaly, and my local constituency, I feel I will be more beneficial to the Party by focussing on these roles, and growing the party my own constituency.
This does not include the day job of being a stay-at-home mother of four, on a busy working farm, and being actively involved in several community initiatives. The expression “if you want something done, ask a busy person” comes to mind, and believe me there are many people in the Party to whom this applies.
We all have husbands, wives, partners, families or friends who all help us do what we do. I’m sure that often this help is not fully appreciated, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank my husband Mark, my children Charlie, Poppy, Heidi and George, and my mother Jeannie, who have been most supportive and patient, and have allowed me to pursue this green path I have chosen!
There is much to be excited about in the months and years ahead. We have the largest convention attendance for many years, a brand new webpage ready for launch, a fresh team of active and committed spokespeople, and a cohort of brilliant election candidates committed to the cause. We have a monthly Green Gazette for all members, and a weekly update for those more actively involved in official roles. I urge you all to read the information that is send out – it is most useful and will give you a decent appraisal of what we are doing, and where we are going. As always we will welcome your comments and suggestions on the structure and content of the information we send out. Remember too, that we are the only political party that has a truly democratic policy development procedure, and each and everyone of you is entitled, to suggest changes and amendments to policy, as well as create new policy.
Unfortunately, the poll ratings of this past year have been disappointing, despite all this hard work and progress. Either our message is wrong, or it is not getting through to the electorate. Either way we need to improve on this. For me being Green means being fair, proactive, and thinking long term about the future of our planet and the people who live on it. This is a difficult message to sell, particularly in a time of instant gratification and fake news, both which serve to undo so much of what is good in this world.
To adapt another party’s idiom: “We have a lot done, but so much more to do, and maybe not much time to do it in!” Who knows when the next General Election will be called, but with local elections around the corner in 2019, let’s get focussed, get the heads down, and work together to get more Green voices elected - all around the country.
I feel it is most important that we not to drift away from our basic philosophy, which places our natural environment at the centre of our decisions and policies. Let us retain that unique identity. I think we need to offer something that is perceptibly different from the other political parties – this I believe is one of our strengths, and it is something to build on.
We are not a first cousin of the Social Democrats, or a green wing of the Labour Party, nor are we a gentle verdant variety of Sinn Fein. We are the Green Party, and we should be proud of that, and proud of the fact that we think of the bigger picture, for the benefit of all, and for the protection of our beautiful planet.
We need to focus and prioritise our efforts to get the Green Party message out there in a clear and cohesive manner, which is attractive to Irish people, all over the country. It important to keep this message concise and direct, and relevant to the people we wish to attract – both as members, and as voters.
Today, we have listened to the EC candidates, and have elected those we feel are best served to guide our party for the year ahead. We, the members, have voted for them based on what they say and what they do. They best represent what the membership want for the Green Party, and I would urge the existing EC members to listen to them, and to take on board their views and suggestions.
Although a year is not long in passing by, I trust that we, the outgoing EC, have laid some secure paving stones for the incoming committee, and we hope that this transition will be as seamless as possible. I would sincerely like to wish the new EC the very best. I hope they have a fruitful year, with plenty of time and energy to spend on positive and far-reaching strategies that will grow our Green Party into the proactive, influential, and inspiring political force we deserves to become.
Thank You