Green Party press conference:Green Party members voted last night by an overwhelming 86 per cent majority to enter into government with Fianna Fáil after a lengthy and sometimes emotional debate at the party conference in the Mansion House.
Party leader Trevor Sargent, who announced he was stepping down as leader of the party, said he would remain as acting leader until a new one was chosen.
He also revealed that he would not be taking a cabinet position but indicated he would take up a junior ministry if it was offered. "I am stepping down on the basis that I have said I would step down. It would not for me reconcile with being at the cabinet table when there are such good Green Party TDs who would be excellent government ministers," he told journalists. "I want it to be absolutely clear with the Irish people and the party membership that my word is my bond and that is the standard the Green Party will uphold."
Members voted 441 to 67 in favour of going into government. There was a total of 510 votes cast, and two spoiled votes.
Members of the party leadership and the party's reference group, including Dan Boyle cried and were visibly emotional when the result was announced at 9.30 pm and a loud cheer erupted in the hall.
Mr Sargent told the members after the result that it had been "the proudest day of my life".
He said it was a day when "hunger for change won out over the status quo, a day when urgency to implement Green Party policy brought people from all over the island in the middle of a working week".
He pledged that the party would continue to fight for social justice, ecological justice and would take part in government to promote a "post-oil" economy.
"Tomorrow we will rise to support the nomination of taoiseach as leader of the country and will participate in a government based on diversity and mutual respect.
"This will be a country that thinks globally and acts locally" he added. The Green Party chairman, Deputy John Gormley, thanked the delegates "from the bottom of my heart" for the decision.
"We enter government with a certain amount of trepidation but in the full knowledge that this is the only way we can implement Green Party policy. That is what this is about."
"Let me say to those who say all parties are the same - come to the Mansion House to see how we conduct our business."
Mr Gormley said a Fianna Fáil councillor said to him it was a pity that Fianna Fáil did not do its business in this way. He said a two-thirds majority was a big challenge, but the overwhelming support gave the party confidence "and thank you for that".
Mr Sargent said those members who voted "no" to the coalition deal were courageous as "it takes courage to be a dissenter". "This is an historic occasion in that the Irish people will now see the Green Party TDs taking responsibility with their votes."