PRESS CONFERENCE:THE REVISED programme for government will have the capacity to transform Irish society and tackle the difficult economic challenges ahead, the negotiating teams for Fianna Fáil and the Greens said last night.
The three-person teams from both parties held a short press conference in Government Buildings at 9pm, some 40 minutes after Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Green Party leader John Gormley had signed off on the document, which contains an estimated 200 recommendations and runs to 40-50 pages.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey announced that the talks had concluded after 60 hours of negotiations over eight days.
“We are happy to announce that we can recommend to our parties the acceptance of a new programme for government,” he said.
“The emphasis is meeting the challenges that Ireland faces, transforming society, and tackling the challenges we face economically. We are very much committed to a just and caring society.
“We look forward to implementing the policies in this particular document over the next three years.”
Green Party Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan also said that the changes would turn the country around.
“We have to get confidence back in the economy. That’s our key in talks, to turn the country around.
“It’s right to have this time in Government when we look and see how best can we do that in every way,” he said.
He continued that there was a huge number of changes in the document. He said it would “transform how we work and how the country would work”.
Members at the convention taking place in the RDS today would have to look at it and make their call.
“The negotiations were fair and long and we are very happy with [the outcome].”
Mr Dempsey said that the two leaders had a meeting at 7.30pm and finalised some of the items.
“It covers all areas of Government obviously. Let’s put it to our members. It will be available subsequent to that,” he said.
Mary White of the Green Party added that the document was not being released in full form last night in deference to party members.
The document will be available to all its members when the convention begins at 10am this morning.
