CREATING 100,000 jobs, making Ireland an oil-free economy and reducing Dáil numbers from 166 to 120 TDs are among the proposals in the Green Party election manifesto launched by party leader John Gormley.
The 34-page document, entitled Renewing Ireland, also proposes using State funds to promote home insulation, develop ocean and tidal energy and to make Ireland the world’s top “green holiday” destination.
It proposes holding a referendum to establish a 40-member elected citizen assembly which would formulate a new draft constitution within 18 months.
Under other proposals, the Dáil would sit for a fixed five-year term, five days a week, but there would be 46 fewer TDs than at present. Half of the remaining 120 deputies would be elected by a list system.
Membership of Seanad Éireann would be cut from 60 to 50 and the existing right of the Taoiseach to nominate 11 senators would be removed.
Voting age would be reduced to 16 and there would be full marriage rights for same-sex couples.
“This election is happening because the Green Party made it happen. We wanted to give the Irish people a choice about the future direction of this country,” Mr Gormley told a news conference at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin yesterday.
He said that, “as a party of government we have delivered. We did what we said we would do on planning, energy, education, transport and civil partnership . . . over the past three years 20,000 jobs have been created in the green economy. We have plans that will see another 100,000 jobs created in this sector over the next ten years.”
On political reform, he said this “should be carried out in an open, transparent way and involve as many people as possible”.
Describing the electoral system as “not fit for purpose”, he added: “A list system has worked extremely well in countries like Germany.” He was “very envious” of the German system. “You have people there, going in, who are specialists in their own areas; we don’t get that, we get generalists here.”
In relation to Seanad Éireann, he said: “We’re not going to jump on any opportunistic bandwagon. It was mentioned and then it just got out of control. So now they’re all on this notion that they’re going to get rid of the Senate.
“We’re not going to do that. . . the Senate is a rotten borough, it does need to be reformed, there’s no question about that.”
On the issue of severance pay for ministers, Mr Gormley said Greens were obliged to give “at least 20 per cent” of income derived from political activity to party funds. The remainder of any severance payments would be donated to charity.
“We’re following the example of Trevor Sargent who led the way on this, who gave his severance payments to charity. We’re going to do the same,” he said.
Former minister for communications Eamon Ryan also said he and Mr Gormley would be following Mr Sargent’s example.
Asked what charity he had in mind, he replied: “We will wait until we get the money and then work out the details of where it will go.”
Mr Gormley said: “We are extremely proud of delivering the civil partnership legislation, but we remain committed to achieving full marriage rights for same-sex couples, including a constitutional amendment if that is necessary”.
He said Ireland should become an oil-free economy. “That is our aim, to create a sustainable economy by 2030 and true sustainability is breaking your dependence on imported fossil fuels”.
The Green leader added: “Waving a regal hand will not make the vested interests that some parties rely on for funding disappear, or obviate the promises made in a wink-and-elbow language on golfing fundraisers”.
GREEN PARTY MANIFESTO: MAIN POINTS
EMPLOYMENT
* Create 100,000 new jobs by developing green energy, sustainable food and green tourism.
* Use €500 million from the National Pension Reserve Fund to retrofit 100,000 premises every year for greater energy efficiency.
* Use lower-intensity farming methods to produce sustainable food.
* Implement a strategy to make Ireland an oil-free economy by 2030.
* Develop tidal energy with a potential yield of €120 billion.
* Establish an eco-tourism unit to promote “green” holidays.
POLITICAL REFORM
* Referendum to establish citizens’ assembly to prepare new draft constitution.
* Reduce number of TDs from 166 to 120, electing half of them from a national list.
* Dáil to sit for fixed five-year term unless government loses a vote of confidence.
* Cut number of senators from 60 to 50 and remove right of taoiseach to nominate 11 members.
* New system of regional and local government for greater local autonomy.
* Referendum on rights of the child without delay.
* Reduce voting age to 16.
GENERAL
* Full marriage rights for same-sex couples
* Micro-tax on financial transactions to fund social projects.
* Ban trade in animal furs.
* Retain the existing pupil- teacher ratio in primary and secondary schools.
