Protests at proposed Green Party agreement with Fianna Fail

A small group of protesters gathered outside the Mansion House today to voice their opinions on the programme for government agreed with Fianna Fail following 10 days of negotiations. Hundreds of Green Party members entering the Mansion House to vote on the programme were met by shouts of "No Shannon, Save Tara!" from groups opposed to the programme and "Vote Yes!" from those in support of the proposed coalition.

Meanwhile, the programme for government backtracks on Green promises on Shannon. 

Unlike many of the protesters, Mary Walsh and other members of the Irish Autism Action (IAA) group were at the Mansion House to urge Green Party members to vote in favor of the programme for government. Walsh was optimistic at the prospect of the Green Party getting into government as the party had supported the IAA in the past.

The IAA seek funding for Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) education for autistic children. The group believes that this method of education has been shown to be the only one that serves all the needs of autistic students. Walsh said that the group had verbal agreements from the Green Party in support of ABA. The group is confident that if the Green party gets into government, they will receive their funding as the party is very education based.

However, the Green Party risks losing support from other organsiations if fears that the proposed agreement with Fianna Fail is a “watered-down” version of the party's core principles are realised.

Vincent Salafia from Tara Watch felt "betrayed" at the prospect of the Green Party going into coalition with Fianna Fáil.  "The Green Party promised a review [of the M3 motorway], and it doesn't look like there's going to be a review, much less a rerouting,"  he added. Salafia described voting yes to the programme as "political suicide".

Although not specifically mentioned in the manifesto, the Green Party has been very vocal in its opposition to the routing of the motorway in the past.

In a statement on the Green Party website, Ciarán Cuffe, spokesperson on Justice, Equality & Law Reform, Local Government and Environment said "as far back as March 2005 I've stated that going ahead with the proposed route for the M3 would be an act of cultural and historical vandalism".

On the 6 June, the Hill of Tara was recognized internationally as an endangered site by the World Monuments Fund.  

"Tara is an important place both historically and culturally, and there are many  
reasonable solutions. It's not necessary to desecrate Tara" said Salafia.

About-turn on the use of Shannon

The continued use of Shannon airport by the US military was also protested. The Green Party is adamant in its election manifesto that it “will end the use of Shannon Airport by US military forces involved in the war in Iraq".

However, in a marked departure from this statement in the programme for government with Fianna Fáil, the Green Party leadership refers only to extraordinary rendition, and merely agrees to “encourage and support An Garda Siochana in the investigation and enforcement of” the Criminal Justice (UN Convention Against Torture) Act 2000 and the Geneva Conventions Act 1962-1998.  It does not explicitly commit to preventing the US military using Shannon Airport. The document said that these statutes would be supported “ensure effective protection for the dignity of all persons within or passing through the State” and that the requisite training and financial support would be provided An Garda to perform their duties. 

Details of the agreement on Shannon were not available earlier today, hoever, in anticipation of such an outcome, Richard Boyd Barrett, chairperson of the Irish Anti-War Movement and election candidate for Dun Laoighre, described the compromise as a "monstrous betrayal". Barrett described it as a betrayal of the voters, who had voted for the Green Party on the basis of its manifesto. Barrett of the People Before Profit Alliance narrowly lost out to Ciaran Cuffe in Dun Laoghaire after the 10th count.

Aden Daly of the Irish Anti-War Movement was disappointed by the prospect of the Greens going into coalition with Fianna Fáil and Bertie Ahern, who he called a "sycophant". He described it as going into power with "imperialists".

When speaking about the major issues of the election, Daly felt that Shannon was not given enough media coverage. He said that RTE's election coverage was "clearly channelled in one direction. ... It focused more on the process [of the election] than the real issues involved".

Oisín Ó Dubhláin took part in the protest to remind Green Party members that in compromising on its principles, it could lose the support of its core constituents.  "This is not what the people are voting for."

He said that at the beginning of the campaign he was impressed by the Green Party leadership and their passion about problems in the current government.  Since talks of a coalition began, his enthusiasm has dwindled.  "I'm disappointed.  I'm quite angry, actually."

Also at the protest was Peter Preston, who was focused on the Green Party's promise to "clean up politics" in Ireland. "Now they are running away from what they said they would do."

Preston hoped that party members would vote against the programme for government, calling it the "biggest mistake the Green Party would make in 25 years".

The Green Party members will vote on the programme for government this at 8:30 this evening in a secret ballot.

Download the Green Party manifesto here

Download the Fianna Fail manifesto here 

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Additional reportage on draft Programme for Government by Malachy Browne 

Photos by Aisling O'Rourke