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Langton’s Hotel, Kilkenny 27th-28th March 2015

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Motion A – Regional Quotas for NEC Elections

Proposer: NEC

Explanation:The NEC wish to propose a

change to the manner in which it is elected. As the process currently stands, each NEC must be comprised of at least two persons from each of the five regions (based on the EU constituencies: Dublin, East, South, North-West, Northern Ireland). These two persons can come from the ten members elected at National Convention, or may be among the five persons who get onto NEC automatically, as a result of their officer positions within the Party (Leader, Deputy Leader, Chairperson, Treasurer, Young Greens rep).

This situation is problematic as a) in the last two NEC elections, we had problems filling our regional quotas of two from some regions b) a region’s quota can be filled by two Party officers, without anyone from that region being actually elected at Annual Convention.

In order to address this, the NEC is proposing two changes, outlined below. First of all, from now on each region will only be automatically entitled to one member of NEC. However, this automatic position must come from among the ten individuals elected at Annual Convention. As such, the Party officer positions will not count towards filling a regions automatic position.

NOTE: If passed at Convention 2013, this amendment would immediately apply to the election of the new NEC at Convention 2013.

Current Text5.6 National Executive Committee CompositionThe National Executive Committee shall comprise:a) the Party Leader;

b) the Deputy Leader;c) the Cathaoirleach;d) a representative selected

in advance of each Annual Convention by the Young Greens / Óige Ghlas;

e) a Treasurer, elected individually by preferendum at each Annual Convention;

f ) 10 other members elected by preferendum at each Annual Convention so that of the 15 members there will be:

i) at least one member of the Parliamentary Party and not more than three

ii) at least one local government representative

iii) at least two members resident in each EU constituency covered by the Party.

If the above conditions and gender balance cannot both be satisfied by the candidates available, additional members will be selected to achieve gender balance. In this event the next highest ranking males or females in the preferendum will be elected. Failing this the National Executive Committee will co-opt members to achieve gender balance.

Meetings shall be attended in a non-voting capacity by the General Secretary and the

Chair (or in his/her absence the Deputy Chair) of National Council.Proposed new text with amendments in bold.5.6 National Executive Committee CompositionThe National Executive Committee shall comprise:

a) the Party Leader;b) the Deputy Leader;c) the Cathaoirleach;d) a representative selected



f ) 10 other members elected by preferendum at each Annual Convention so that [delete: “of the 15 members there will be”]

i) of the 15 members there will be at least one member of the Parliamentary Party and not more than three

ii) of the 15 members there will be at least one local government representative

iii) of the 10 members elected at Convention there will be at least one member resident in each EU constituency covered by the Party.


Meetings shall be attended

in a non-voting capacity by the General Secretary and the Chair (or in his/her absence the Deputy Chair) of National Council.

Motion B – Number required to constitute a Constituency GroupProposer: Limerick“We call on the Green Party to reduce the number required to constitute a Constituency Group from 10 to 5 as defined within our party constitution.”

5.1.1 A Constituency Group must be recognised by the National Executive Committee according to Rules and Procedures and in consultation with the relevant Regional Group where one exists. The minimum membership must be 10 paid-up members.

Rationale: The definition of a Constituency Group was defined ad 10 members was ratified at a time when the party had it’s largest membership.At this time membership has fallen and the number required for a Constituency Group should reflect this fact.

Technical Motions

A Chairde, Welcome to the 2015 Green Party Annual Convention.

It’s great to be here in Kilkenny, the Marble City, where our Environment Spokesperson Cllr Malcolm Noonan will be standing in the Carlow - Kilkenny by-election in just a few weeks time. I hope you will all act as ambassadors for Malcolm and our party this weekend, and do your part to ensure that Malcolm is returned as a TD to the Daíl.

Kilkenny is a fitting place to hold this annual meeting of our party. This county is one of the most fertile in Ireland, with exciting times ahead for food producers, but like the rest of the country it is at the crossroads of how we develop a truly green agriculture sector. Tourism and heritage are key to its success, but the powers that be still think knocking down the old city to build a new road makes sense. The issues here about access to public transport, broadband, energy, postal, banking and water services, are those with resonance for so many Irish

FRIDAY 27 MARCH: Set Theatre7.00pm-7.30pm Green Party Website Workshop for

Candidates and Campaign Managers7.30pm-10.00pm Public Debate: Community at the Crossroads

• Declan Rice - Kilkenny Leader Partnership

• Sadhbh O’Neill - Environmental Pillar• Patricia Brennan - Community Workers

Co-op

SATURDAY 28 MARCH9.00am Registration opens9.30am-10.15am Reports10.15am-11.15am Motions11.15am-11.30am Break11.30am-12.15pm Panel Discussion on Digital Rights

• Ann O’Dea (Silicon Republic)• T J McIntyre (Digital Rights Ireland)

12.15pm-1.15pm Motions continue1.15pm-1.30pm NEC Hustings1.30pm-2.30pm Lunch2.30pm-3.30pm Panel Discussion on Housing

• John Fitzgerald (ESRI)• Dermot Sellars (NABCO)• Cllr. Ciaran Cuffe - Green Party• Joan Campbell - Green Party

3.30pm-3.40pm Cathaoirleach address – Cllr. Roderic O’Gorman

3.40pm-4.10pm Candidates Session: election focused discussion

• Cara Augustenborg - Green Party• Hazel Chu - Cllr. Patrick Costello’s

Campaign Manager in LE 2014• Cllr. Claire Byrne - Green Party

4.10pm-4.30pm Break 4.30pm-5.20pm Panel Discussion on Public Banking with

Economist Dr Richard Werner and Cllr. Mark Dearey

5.20pm-5.30pm Deputy Leader speech – Cllr. Catherine Martin

5.40pm-6.00pm Party Leader speech – Eamon Ryan7.30pm-8.30pm Dinner in Langton’s Restaurant

SUNDAY 29 MARCH11.00am-1.00pm Meitheal/Canvass/Leaflet Drop for Carlow/

Kilkenny By-Election Candidate Cllr. Malcolm Noonan. Meet at 11am in the Langton Hotel Car Park to canvass Kilkenny city centre.

Leader’s welcome

towns and villages. We need to address them all if we are to reinvigorate the vibrant rural economy, and attract the investment which creates jobs.

How do we make places like Carlow and Kilkenny the best case examples of a new green economy and society that is fairer and more secure? That is the question we need to answer this weekend.

Take your time to deliberate and engage with the motions on offer, and good luck to those standing for election to the NEC.

I wish you all a great weekend and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

Running order

Our annual draw tickets are available to purchase. All profits will help us to maintain our Head Office and support our candidates through the next General Election. Please support the draw which will take place on Saturday evening after dinner in Langton’s Hotel.Please talk to one of our sellers to get your ticket(s) at €10 each or £8. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Annual Draw Tickets

As always, children are very welcome at Convention. We have a designated room available for children in the Green Room, located in the upper tier in the Set Theatre and we hope to have colouring pencils, paper and books

available for children to use on the day.

Parents are free to use the room at any time they wish but please note that it is not a supervised crèche and parents are responsible for their children at all times.

Children at ConventionLucht na Gaeilge ag an ArdfheisBeidh lucht na Gaeilge sa pháirtí ag teacht le chéile go sóisialta den chéad uair ag Ardfheis an Chomhaontais Ghlais i mbliana ag 8pm Dé hAoine 27 Márta. Más mian leat deis a fháil aithne a chur ar chainteoirí Gaeilge eile an pháirtí agus eolas a fháil faoi fhorbairtí nua Gaeilge sa pháirtí, bí linn ag Óstán Langton ag an am thuas. Cuir ceist ag fáiltiú an ostáin chun muid a aimsiú.

Convention 2015 | Page 3

Co-founder of Siliconrepublic.com, Ann is a leading voice in the Irish technology industry.

After a long stint abroad in France and Italy, Ann returned to Ireland and worked for several years as a freelance technology and business journalist, contributing to a variety of publications including the Irish Times, Irish Independent and the Sunday Tribune.

Ann is coordinator of the long-running Women Invent Tomorrow campaign, which champions role models in the areas of science, technology, engineering and maths.

Guest speakersProf. Richard Werner

Dermot Sellers

Richard has been at the University of Southampton since 2004. He is Director of International Development and founding Director of the Centre for Banking, Finance and Sustainable Development.

Richard’s book ‘Princes of the Yen’ became a No. 1 bestseller in Japan. His 2005 book ‘New Paradigm in Macroeconomics’ correctly predicted the collapse of the UK banking system and property market. It highlighted the problem of ‘recurring banking crises’ and suggested workable solutions.

He coined the term ‘Quantitative Easing’ in 1995 about bringing growth to the Japanese economy.

Dermot is Policy and Communications Manager with NABCO, Ireland’s national federation for the co-operative housing movement.

Within NABCO his responsibilities include supporting the governance and strategic planning of the organisation and representing and promoting the co-operative model.

He represents the Association on the Community and Voluntary Pillar of social partnership and on the National Homeless Consultative Committee.

A chairde Glas,Thar ceann an Comhaontas

Glas i gCeatharlach agus Cill Chainnigh...teastaíonn uaim fáilte ‘s fichead a chur roimh na toscairí ar fad go dtí an tionól seo i gcathair álainn Cill Chainnigh.

On behalf of the Carlow/Kilkenny Green Party I am delighted to welcome delegates to the Green Party Annual Convention 2015 in our beautiful city of Kilkenny.

We are here in the aftermath of a hugely successful local and European election campaign, where we returned many exceptional people to local government, and came within a whisker of a European success with Eamon. Many other candidates also came so very close to electoral success.

Having a Green voice in local government is vital to re-establishing ourselves on the political landscape in Ireland; a presence we know is needed more now than ever. I am certain that our party will be back in Dáil Éireann following the General Election, and here

Malcolm’s welcome

in Carlow/Kilkenny we have a shot at being back this year. We have a wonderful team of volunteers who will leave no stone unturned to win back a seat in this constituency.

I would like to wish you all the best for the weekend ahead. Enjoy the lively debates and make sure to catch up with old friends. I hope you will get some time to explore our beautiful city and county during your stay.

I would like to thank the Langton family for making us feel so welcome in the wonderful Set Theatre, and our coordinating committee for their work in putting together the programme for the weekend. Here’s to a successful Convention 2015.

Malcolm

Hazel ChuHazel is Head of Corporate and Trade Communications at Diageo, Ireland. She is responsible for Diageo’s overall reputation, crisis management, corporate and brand communications.

Hazel has over 15 years of industry experience with specific expertise in reputation management and building agile communication strategies.

Before Diageo, she held senior positions in semi-state and non-profit organisations, including Forfás, Bord Bia and MS Ireland.

She graduated from King’s Inns and subsequently received a fellowship to complete an MSc in marketing practice from UCD Smurfit Business School. She is currently a board member of VSO Ireland.

John has been a Research Affiliate at the ESRI since November 2014. Prior to that he was a Research Professor there and Programme Coordinator of the Macroeconomics Research Area. He is President of the Association d’Instituts Européens de Conjoncture Économique and a former president of the Irish Economic Association.

He is currently a member of the Commission of the Central Bank of Ireland and of the Independent Expert Panel established in 2014 by the Department of Communications.

He was a member of the EU “Group for Economic Analysis” from 2002-2004 advising the President of the EU Commission.

John Fitzgerald

Ann O’Dea

T J is a law lecturer at University College Dublin where he specialises in issues involving information technology law and civil liberties.

He holds a BCL from University College Dublin and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. His doctoral thesis was on the topic of internet filtering law and governance.He qualified as a barrister in King’s Inns, Dublin.

He is chairman of the independent civil liberties group Digital Rights Ireland.

T J McIntyre



Proposer: NEC






























Technical Motions Green Party's character as a party of strong social justice principles, and I would hope to bring a youthful vision, voice and energy to the NEC. Working in law and studying politics has given me a broad experience which I think could be helpful in creating a coherence both of policy and organisation in the Green Party so that we can bring our message of change to the Irish people in this election year.

John HardyGreen comrades, I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your support in seeking to serve you as a member of the NEC representing Northern Ireland. I am currently the Secretary of the Green Party in Northern Ireland and have served on the NEC for the previous two years. I would very much like to continue in this capacity, helping to build stronger links between the regions within our party. Please lend me your support for another term. Thank you.

Aengus Ó Corráin My name is Aengus Ó Corráin. I’m a practicing Barrister from Cork. My practice includes commercial, planning, and human-rights law. I’m working with the Agriculture, Planning, and Justice Policy groups. I’ve previously worked for Greenpeace in America and did a Masters in Environmental Law in TCD. My hope is to help grow the party from a small one to a large one. Action on climate change is needed now. Ireland needs a big, influential Green Party to make these changes. I hope you will give

This year’s NEC election will be for four seats. Six seats have been automatically filled based on regional and gender representation.

The automatically elected candidates are:Steven Agnew (Northern Ireland)Margaret Sheehan (Connacht)Mary Ryder (Munster)Rachel Powers (Munster)Suzanne McEneaney (Leinster)Seán Ó Buachalla (Leinster).

NEC Elections

The candidates contesting the four remaining seats are:

Dave GoslingSince joining the Party in 2008 I have seen a fully staffed organisation in Government and a Volunteer organisation in the wilderness. I believed the party’s realistic policies could make the country a better place. I think we are more needed than ever. Now, sitting somewhat at the centre of the political spectrum, I believe we can sell our balanced/practical/long-term vision to the electorate. I want to be on the NEC to help ensure a Strong/Principled/Realistic/Unbowed campaign in 2016. I have been DSE Chair, led the 5 Year Strategy Group and Membership Development sub-Group. I am currently National Fundraising Coordinator.

Pat KinsellaThe Green Party has a vital role to play in protecting the environment, the planet and people, and making a positive difference to all on this island. The effort is

to ensure a Green perspective, and prevent the spread of all forms of political extremism and militarism.

I am a Midwife, Nurse and Pacifist. I abhor violence and torture, and will work tirelessly for Human Rights.

Tom KivlehanI am a former Councillor (Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown 2004-2009), a trustee of the Green Party, Spokesperson on Transport and have worked on a number of policy committees including Energy, Waste, Water and Planning. Professionally, I have a business promoting tourism in Ireland and have strong management experience.

We need a team with a broad range of skills and I am asking you for your support and No 1 vote, to give our party a strong team on our National Executive Committee , that will help prepare the Green Party for the forthcoming election and the challenging year ahead.

Cormac ManningA chairde, my name is Cormac Manning and I'm running for

NEC 2015/16. I have served on NEC for the past two years, and have worked over that time to rebuild our party. I also stood in the 2014 local elections, getting 890 first preference votes. I would like to continue this work for another year, focusing on fundraising to ensure the party stays open, and I'd like to continue making reasonable contributions at the table, planning for the growing future of the Greens. I would like to ask if you would please consider me for your NEC vote. I am seeking a nomination to the National Executive Committee in order to do all I can to maximise the electoral vote for the Green Party at Local , National and European elections.

Dónal SwanMy name is Donal Swan, I've recently finished studying law in UCD and I'm currently working in Dublin as a paralegal. I am passionate about the


me the chance to grow the party on the National Executive Committee when you vote.

Phil Kearney Member since 1982, helped to draft the seven principles.Member of the NEC in the ‘80s, ‘90s and noughties. Coordinator twice.Campaign manager for ’09 local elections. Contested leadership in 2011. More recently a founder of the An Taisce climate change committee. Divide my time between climate activism and a hillfarm in SW Wicklow - forestry and sheep. GP/CG is the only party likely to prioritise the existential threats posed by climate change in the forthcoming election and to articulate a coherent and radical response to those threats. This is why I wish to be on the NEC. Tom Duffy Father, Volunteer, Architect, Businessman. Born in Dublin's Northside in 1969. Educated in Marino and Bolton Street DIT. Married to Dolly Victoria Arias from Colombia. Two Sons, Finnegus Antonio Arias and Edgardo Fintan Arias. Architect & Curator at Green Design Build Design Gallery & Office in Leeson Street Dublin, promoting Sustainable Architecture, Art, Handmade Crafts. Volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul Gardiner Street and Clarendon Street Dublin. Main interests include practical Social Justice, social housing crisis, Political Reform, Anti Corruption in Politics, real practical sustainable development , Education, and meaningful well paid jobs well distributed throughout Ireland.

Catering

StarterHomemade soup of the evening served with homemade brown bread.Duo of melon and pineapple, seasonal berries and exotic fruit coulis.Salmon-filled mushroom caps on mixed leaves with garlic dip.Piri piri chicken wings with Cajun mayonnaise.

Main courseOven baked supreme of chicken, mozzarella, chorizo and sundried tomato filling, served with baby potatoes, ratatouille and balsamic jus.Cajun spiced salmon on a bed of stir-fry vegetables and coriander rice.Thai red chicken curry served on a bed of rice, mint yoghurt dressing.

Confit of duck leg on a bed of mash, butternut squash, puree black cherry jus.Asian style veg stir-fry on a bed of egg noodles, chili & sweet soy sauce.Grilled 8oz sirloin steak, golden fried onion rings & peppercorn sauce (Supplement €2.00.)Smoked bacon chorizo and sundried tomato on a bed of pasta.

DessertLangtons style cheesecake with cassis coulis.Baileys & brown bread ice-cream gateau served with hot butterscotch sauce.Warm chocolate fudge cake served with hot chocolate sauce & vanilla ice cream

~~~Freshly brewed tea and coffee.

A huge thank you to our Convention team and committed volunteers who have worked really hard over the last few weeks to organise this year’s annual Convention.

A special mention to the local Carlow/Kilkenny group and

Malcolm’s team who’ve also worked tirelessly to ensure our members are well taken care of over the few days.

Also a big thank you to Langton’s Hotel for going above and beyond in helping us to make it a successful weekend.

A huge thank you... All non-probationary members who have renewed their membership for 2015 will be entitled to vote. If you haven’t renewed already, it is very simple – you can renew at the registration desk or online at greenparty.ie

Voting

Irish Rail: MacDonagh Junction is a six minute walk away from Langtons. Trains leave at 1:18, 3:30, 3:49 and 6:43, and arrive at Dublin Houston Station at 2:50, 5:06, 5:20 and 8:20 respectively. Approximate cost for journey is €26.Dublin Coach: MacDonagh Junction is a six minute walk away from Langtons. Coaches leave at 11:40, 1:40, 3:40 and 5:40, and arrive at Dublin d’Olier Street at 1:15, 3:15, 5:15 and 7:15 respectively. Approximate cost for journey is €10.

Bus Eireann: Kilkenny Railway Station is a five minute walk away from Langtons. Bus #7 leaves at 12:30, 1:05, 3:30, 4:40 and 6:25, and arrives at Dublin Heuston Station at 2:35, 3:22, 5:25, 6:35 and 8:30 respectively. Approximate cost for journey is €13.J.J. Kavanagh Coaches: Kilkenny Castle is a six minute walk away from Langtons. Coaches leave at 11:50, 3:10 and 5:50, and arrive at Dublin Eden Quay at 1:35, 5:40 and 7:50 respectively. Approximate travel cost is €13.

Transport (to Dublin on Sunday 29th)

The hotel will have tea and coffee stations set up throughout the day. All sales are on a cash basis. A lunch menu of soup and a choice of meat and vegetarian sandwiches is available priced at €6.50 per person. A dinner menu is available in the hotel restaurant @ €25 for three courses. (There will also be more vegetarian and vegan options available today.)



Proposer: NEC






























Technical Motions Motions and PolicySaturday 28th March

Technical MotionsMotion A – End Term Limits throughout the ConstitutionProposer: NEC

Delete:• section 5.05,• section 5.3.4 1st sentence,• section 5.6.1 1st sentence.

ExplanationTerm limits were suspended under section 5.05 but have not been reviewed. This proposal is to abolish them.

Motion B – Make it Easier to Amalgamate Constituency GroupsProposer NEC

Add to section 5.1.1: “A Constituency Group may amalgamate with one or more Constituency Groups in adjacent constituencies. The National Executive Committee may amalgamate Constituency Groups for adjacent constituencies if it considers that this will lead to increased activity.”

Explanation:The way this can happen at the moment is unclear.

Motion C – Allow the NEC to Convene Constituency GroupsProposer: NEC

Add 5.1.5: “The National Executive Committee has the right to convene a meeting of any Constituency Group by notifying all members on the records maintained by the national party.” [This will be 5.1.4 if Item 7 is passed.]

Explanation

This is to cater for situations where Constituency Groups have become inactive.

Motion D – Remove the Requirement for Constituency and Regional Development Plans

Proposer: NEC

Delete section 5.1.4 and section 5.2.6.

ExplanationThe Party does not currently have the staff to guide this process.

Motion E – Shorten the Section on Regional GroupsProposer: NEC

Delete sections 5.2.1 to 5.2.7 inclusive and substitute:

• “5.2.1 Regional Groups may be formed where there is a perceived regional focus for co-ordinated activity, either by unanimous agreement of the Constituency Groups in a region or by decision of the National Executive Committee.

• 5.2.2 The decision-making structure of a Regional Group shall be decided by a General Meeting of members in the region who have voting rights according to Section 4.4. It shall be subject to approval by the National Council except in the case of an organisation outside the Republic of Ireland recognised by the National Executive Committee as having Regional Group status in the Party.

• 5.2.3 Each Regional Group shall have a Co-ordinator for the purpose of communications.”

Explanation: The exception in 5.2.2 relates to the Green Party in Northern Ireland. No other Regional Groups are operative at present.

Motion F – Remove the Requirement for Delegates to national Council to be Elected at the First Meeting after Convention

Proposer: NEC

In section 5.3.5 delete “at the first meeting of each Constituency Group and each Regional Group subsequent to Convention” and substitute “annually”.

ExplanationThis allows Groups to elect their delegates at any point of the year.

Motion G – Add Two Members to Policy Steering Committee Elected by National Council

Proposer: NEC

In section 5.3.6 delete “and the Party Chairperson” and substitute “the Party Chairperson, and two members elected by National Council.”

Explanation: The Policy Steering Committee already has several non-voting members who assist in its work. This would allow two of them to be voting members. The gender balance rule

(section 5.03) would apply so that these two members could be of the same sex if necessary for gender balance.

Motion H – Remove Requirement for General SecretaryProposer: NEC

• In sections 5.1.4 and 5.2.6 [if not deleted under Item 7] replace “the General Secretary” by “Party staff”.

• In section 5.5 • amend section 5.5(a) to

“To employ staff, who may include a General Secretary”;

• delete section 5.5(b) and re-letter subsequent sections;

• in section 5.5(c) delete “through the auspices of the General Secretary”;

• in section 5.5(h) amend “Chair of National Council and the General Secretary” to “and Chair of National Council”;

• in the passage following section 5.6(e)(iii) delete “the General Secretary and”;

• in section 5.6.2 replace “the General Secretary between meetings of the National Executive Committee” by “Party staff”;

• in section 5.7.3(d) replace “General Secretary” by “staff”.

• In section 9.6.7 delete “drafted by the General Secretary and”.

ExplanationAs the Party no longer has a General Secretary these provisions are inoperable. If the Party is able to employ a General Secretary in future the NEC will have power under the amended 5.5(a) to appoint one and allocate appropriate functions to them.


However, giving the General Secretary voting rights at the Management Committee would require a subsequent constitutional amendment.

Motion I – Clarify Distinction between Appeals Panel and Appeals Committee

Proposer: NEC

• In section 5.9.1 amend “The Appeals Tribunal” to “The members of an Appeals Tribunal”;

• In section 5.9.3, section 5.9.4, and section 5.9.5 amend “The Appeals Committee” to “An Appeals Tribunal”.

Explanation:This reflects what has always been the practice as the Constitution as drafted appeared to be unworkable.

Motion J – Align Consensus Decision-Making With What Actually Happens

Proposer: NEC

Amend section 6.1.1 to read: “In circumstances where, in the view of the chairperson, all reasonable efforts to achieve consensus have failed and the time available for debate is exhausted, the chairperson may put the matter to a vote. Upon the chairperson announcing a decision to do so, any member entitled to vote at the meeting may request that a procedural vote be taken to overturn the chairperson’s decision; in which case the procedural vote will be held immediately without discussion.”

Delete section 6.1.5 and re-number 6.1.6 as 6.1.5.

ExplanationThis reflects current procedure by chairpersons and provides a way of objecting.

Motion K – Change Reference to ‘Convention Delegates’ to ‘All Members’

Proposer: NEC

Delete 7.3 and 7.4 and substitute:

• “7.3 At all Conventions, all paid-up members of the Party shall be entitled to attend, speak and vote, except as specified in section 7.4.

• “7.4 If the National Executive Committee considers that the number of members of the Party has grown to such an extent that Conventions organised under section 7.3 are not practicable, the National Council shall adopt Rules and Procedures for Conventions to be held on a delegate basis, with Regional Groups and/or Constituency Groups and/or Local Groups being represented proportionally. The number of members for the purpose of establishing the ratio of delegates shall exclude members in their probationary period. The decision of the National Council on the issue of proportionality shall be final and binding.”

ExplanationAt present, by a long-standing decision of National Council, all members are deemed to be delegates. This amendment makes the present situation easier to understand, while allowing change in the future.

Motion L – Remove Obsolete Provisions About Ending of NEC Terms of OfficeProposer: NEC

In the passage following section 7.5(l), delete

• “or until the conclusion of the following Annual Convention where elected for 2 years; with the exception that those members of the National Executive Committee elected other than by Convention shall remain in office until such elections are held, or for one month after Convention, whichever period is the shorter.”

ExplanationThese provisions referred to members elected for 2 years and delegates from Regional Councils and from groups of public representatives, and should have been deleted when these positions were abolished.

Motion M – Allow NEC to Convene a Selection Convention if Constituency Group Does Not

Proposer: NEC

Add to section 9.1: “The National Executive Committee may call a Selection Convention if it considers that the Local Group or Constituency Group is unduly delaying doing so.”

ExplanationThis is to cater for situations where Constituency Groups may be inactive.

Motion N - Change the names of the “National Council” and “NEC” to be more indicative of their functionsProposer: Dun Laoghaire Greens

Throughout the Constitution, the name ‘National Council’ would be replaced by “Policy and Rules Committee” and “National Executive Committee” would be replaced by “Executive Committee”.

ExplanationThe functions of these two committees is not clear from their titles and it can take years to realise what they are, unless one enquires.

In particular:• The word “National” is

superfluous because (a) it is a word normally reserved for State bodies, countrywide businesses and the like, (b) within the Party, party-wide is, in our view, implied unless qualified by, say, “Branch” and (c) we are an all-Island party.

• There should be good reason if one group is to be identified as a different type from the other, i.e. “Council” versus “Committee”.

• It is important that “Policy” or “Policy and Rules” is included in the title of what is currently National Council.

Non technical motions continue overleaf...



Proposer: NEC






























Technical MotionsNon technical motionsMotion 1 – Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Proposer: Dublin South West

The Green Party will require rainwater harvesting systems in all new developments so that county councils must include the standard BS 8525, in their development plans and so comply with the Regional Planning Guidelines.

This measure will promote water conservation, save money for residents and reduce rainwater run-off which contributes to flooding.

ExplanationPassing this motion will enable and inspire the party’s county councillors to follow the lead of Green Party Cllr Francis Duffy’s who successfully proposed this motion in South Dublin County Council which has now included this standard in its draft development plan.

Motion 2 – Local Public BankingProposer: Louth Greens

The Green Party supports the proposal from the Savings Bank Foundation for International Co-operation (SBFIC), to establish a network of Local Public Banks in Ireland.

We further urge the Government to provide the necessary resources to allow a detailed Business Plan of a new Local Public Banking system to be drawn up in co-operation with the SBFIC. Convention urges the Government to facilitate the drawing up of the necessary establishing legislation to allow these new banks to be set up as soon as possible.

ExplanationCllr Mark Dearey, has been working with the SBFIC to try and realise the goal of establishing a network of local public banks in Ireland.

A regional bank significantly increases the financial resilience of local economies, as lending is carried out exclusively within the region and any interest or profit earned is retained locally, with those profits then directed towards further local lending or retained as core capital. Lending would be concentrated in the domestic and small business sector, with larger loans approved than those typically provided by the credit unions, but smaller than the typical lending of existing commercial banks.

A public bank is a financial institution which is publicly held in trust by a statutory regional institution (for instance a Municipal or Local Authority). It has stakeholders not shareholders, and a public mandate can be specified to legally compel the bank to apportion some profits to public projects. With no obligations to shareholders, dividends are not paid and resources are instead channelled into building capacity within individual business borrowers. This greatly improves the quality of lending, and the management capacity of the SME sector more generally.

Public bank lending is a proven concept, and it works well in countries where it already exists. In the German context, where both public banks and commercial banks operate, Sparkassen banks are more efficient and more commercially successful than their private commercial competitors.

The development of public banking in Ireland will require significant primary legislation to be successful, and it will also need broad-based political support. Discussions have already been initiated with the Central Bank as a first step in what will have to be a rigorous regulatory approval process.

To make public banking work, a reliable institutional trusteeship needs to be found, and any attempts by political agents to appropriate the idea need to be resisted. There is also the imperative to ensure that whatever new banking system evolves is compatible with existing, small scale community savings entities, such as credit unions. Before any of this happens, however, a piece of applied research identifying a place in the market for public savings banks needs to be completed, followed by support from the Attorney General’s office in identifying a legislative pathway.

The question before Ireland now is: what should fill the space left by the crisis and the withdrawal of several commercial banks from the market? Clearly the previous banking model, dominated by a small number of high-lending commercial banks, failed and is still failing. An opportunity exists to recreate the banking sector in Ireland, one which works for communities and small and medium sized enterprises. We believe that the public banking model which has worked for over 200 years in Germany can fill the gap that exists in Irish banking at present.

Motion 3 – Reform of the Derelict Sites ActProposer: Dublin Central Greens

“That Convention calls on the Minister for the Environment, Communities and Local Government to tackle the under-use and hoarding of derelict land by the state, semi-state and private sectors by reforming the Derelict Sites Act to make available such lands for self-build and other forms of affordable housing”

Motion 4 – Amend the Constitution to Prevent the Privatisation of Public Water

Proposer: Dublin West Greens

The Green Party / Comhaontas Glas reiterates its call for a referendum to amend the Constitution to prevent the privatization of public water and water supply services in Ireland. The Green Party is committed to working towards this goal during the lifetime of the next Oireachtas.

Motion 5 – Ireland should Implement the EU Reception DirectiveProposer: Mayo Greens

The Green Party calls for Ireland to sign up to the EU ‘Reception Directive’ in order that the present arbitrary and inhumane accommodation of asylum seekers by this State may be legislatively outlawed and a equitable fair system implemented.

Motion 6 – Site Value TaxProposer: UCC Young Greens

The Green Party / Comhaontas Glas calls for the immediate reform of the property tax and


commercial rates, transforming from the current faulty system to a coherent site value tax.

Motion 7 – Mandatory Green InfrastructureProposer: Dun Laoghaire Greens

“The Green Party supports mandatory green infrastructure planning to be integrated into traditional planning and implemented in all urban and rural development”.

ExplanationGreen infrastructure is an interconnected network of green space that conserves the natural ecosystem and assists in the loss of biodiversity. There is a need to proactively develop green infrastructure which both enhances biodiversity and improves resilience to climate change. This approach has to be incorporated into the planning process so that it actively promotes and conserves green spaces, in both urban and rural development.

Motion 8 – Creation of a Public Liability Insurance SchemeProposer: Galway Greens

“That the Green Party supports the drawing up of legislation that creates a public liability scheme similar to the ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) in New Zealand”.

ExplanationThe ACC provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealand residents and visitors to New Zealand. This would have potentially far-reaching implications for various sectors including the medical/healthcare sector.

Motion 9 - The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)Proposer: Brussels Greens

• Noting with dismay that freedom of information requests have shown that 92% of preparatory meetings the European Commission has conducted in the run-up to EU-US trade talks were with corporate lobbyists, dooming negotiations from the start to corporate capture;

• Noting that the concerns of ordinary citizens, trade unions, environmental, health and safety groups have been all but ignored;

• Believing that the minor trade benefits do not warrant the huge risk to EU and Irish labour standards and environmental regulations;

• Noting with pride that Ireland is one of the only EU countries that does not currently avail of investor-to-state dispute settlement, a mechanism that could allow foreign corporations to sue our government if it passes new laws that impacted on their profits;

• Noting the threat posed to European farmers and consumers by any watering down of prohibitions on unsustainable and unhealthy agricultural practices, including hormone and antibiotic use in farming, chlorination of chicken carcasses, etc.

• Recognising with concern that even the European Commission itself has acknowledged that TTIP is likely to bring “prolonged and substantial’ dislocation to European workers;

• Mindful of the potentially damaging effects of a

deregulatory treaty on taxpayers, SMEs and ordinary workers here in Europe and in the United States.

The Green Party:• Rejects the inclusion of

the Investor-State Dispute Settlement Mechanism in any final agreement;

• Demands full transparency on all chapters of the agreement for all levels of national, regional and local government that the trade deal will impact;

• Urges the rejection of the TTIP agreement should the final treaty include significant compromises on the EU standards for environmental protection, labour protections and other select areas of economic interest;

Motion 10 – Support for a referendum on the 8th Amendment Proposer: Dublin Young Greens

The Green Party supports the holding of a referendum to allow the people of Ireland determine whether or not the 8th Amendment should be repealed.

Motion 11 – Support for a Yes Vote in any Referendum on the Repeal of the 8th Amendment

Proposer: Dublin Young Greens

The Green Party will support a vote in favour of repeal in the above proposed referendum on the 8th amendment, on the condition that the Government have provided draft legislation which will be put in place if the referendum passes.

Explanation:This motion will only be put to

the floor if Motion 10 is passed.

Motion 12 – Legislation Regulating Abortion in the Event that the 8th Amendment is Repealed

Proposer: UCC Young Greens

That upon the repeal of the 8th amendment the Green Party will advocate legislation allowing for the lawful termination of pregnancies in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape, incest and endangerment to the health of the mother

ExplanationThis motion will only be put to the floor if Motion 11 is passed

Motion 13 – Funding of the Health ServiceProposer: Carlow Kilkenny Greens

The Green Party strongly disagrees with other party’s who prioritise tax cuts over solving the crisis in the Health Service. The Green Party will campaign for an increase in the staffing levels in the health service to abate the crisis.

Motion 14 – Tax Rebate on Gas OilProposer: Dublin South Central

The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas supports a change to the legislation to consider replacing the marking of gas oil (Green/Red Diesel) with a tax rebate to farmers and agricultural contractors.



Proposer: NEC






























Technical MotionsMotion 15 – Removal of Rent Allowance

Proposer: QUB Young Greens

That the Green Party condemns the unjust enrichment and subsidy of private landlords by means of the rent allowance scheme and supports measures to phase out the scheme in favour of housing policies that do not involve the payment of tax revenue to private landlords and the necessary distortions of competition in the rental market such policies cause. The Green Party instead supports increased social housing and implementing rent controls.

Motion 16 – Reestablishment of Town Councils and creation of Rural Community Councils

Proposer: Tipperary Greens

The Green Party supports the reestablishment of “town councils “and new rural community councils on a statutory basis elected by poll from the register of electors in each district council area to act as a lower tier of consultative community engagement and to provide a participate role for small communities.

ExplanationThe demise of town councils has left a gap in community representation and participation in local activities

The new district councils are too large and remote from the local community:• To provide a meet and

greet for local activities and dignitaries

• To enable active participation by interested persons in a local environment

• To provide a focus for local activities

• To enable community minded person to take the first step on a community representative role

The present district council electoral requirement is too large a step for small local participation• To teach active civic

participation• The post to be unpaid except

for vouched expense’s as per authorised schedule

• To hold monthly scheduled meetings locally and be serviced by the district council administration

• To act as a support for the district council and to encourage buy in to Co Council structures

• To have a limited role mainly in arts, culture, environmental maintenance, tourism, economic activity, communications and as a two way conduit for the district and county council

• To have each Rural Community,Town Council anchored on a local centre of population eg; Cahir, Fethard, Clonmel, Ck. on Suir, Thurles, Borriseligh, Cloughjordan Newport, Nenagh, Roscrea,Killenaule, Borrisokane , Cashel, Ballyporeen, Ardfinnian, Clogheen, Mullinahone Rearcross,Tempemore etc etc

There are many communities who feel completely removed from the political and council process to the detriment of the entire body politic

Motion 17 – Foreign Military Using Irish Sovereign TerritoryProposer: Clare Greens

The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas declares that foreign military that enter or use assets within the sovereign

territory of Ireland should be permitted only for humanitarian or United Nations approved purposes.

Foreign military seeking passage through Ireland bearing weapons for offensive purposes or transporting captured prisoners should be subject to specific approval by both houses of the Oireachtas on a case by case basis.

The current situation in Shannon airport demands that spot checks be carried out on all military assets of foreign nations entering Ireland.

Motion 18 – Access to Publicly Funded SchoolsProposer: Cork Greens

The Green Party:• condemns discrimination in

access to publicly-funded schools on the grounds of religion;

• believes that publicly-funded schools must meet the needs of all children, of all faiths and none; and

• due to the separation of church and state, believes it is not the role of a publicly-funded school to promote any particular religion to its students.

Motion 19 – Energy and Climate ChangeProposer: Dublin Bay North

• a) “That the Green Party/ Comhaontas Glas are in favour of the option of having an interconnector with Germany and the other Countries that are planning on 100% renewable energy and not nuclear energy and

• b) That individual domestic and community renewable energy creation is to be encouraged by provide no obstacles’ to selling energy to the national grid and by

providing access to low interest government loans for community and domestic energy and

• c) That the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas are gravely concerned at this Governments lack of action on Climate Change”

Motion 20 – Self Determination for KurdsProposer: QUB Young Greens

That the Green Party would call on the Irish government to recognise the right to self-determination of the Kurdish people.

Motion 21 – Liveable StreetsProposer: Dublin Central

That in order to improve road safety and make more liveable streets, this Convention calls on all Local Authorities to introduce 30 kph speed limits as the default in urban areas apart from National Roads and Motorways and calls on the Minister for Transport, Sports and Tourism to update the outdated regulations that only allow such speed limits in areas where the majority of vehicles do not currently exceed this speed, and furthermore calls on him to regulate for 20 kph pedestrian priority zones in residential areas and make the more powerful road user liable by default for accidents unless it can be clearly shown that the vulnerable road user was at fault.”

Non technical motions (continued)


Motion 23 – Move Responsibility for Food Processing Sector to Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Proposer: Galway Greens“That the responsibility for the food processing sector should be transferred from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Governmental responsibility for primary food producers (ie. farmers) should remain with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine”.

Motion 24 – Elections and Elected RepresentativesProposer: Dublin Bay North Greensa) “That the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas are in favourer of fairer elections making the playing field more equal by reducing expenditure, limiting posters to designated areas with the same space and quantity for each candidate, limiting printed materials also and advertising in the papers and online to be provided equally to all candidates with a photo bio, points of policy, links to website, contacts and social media”.

b) “That the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas are in favour of measures to bring new people into politics and prevent career politicians by putting a limit of the amount of terms of office of elected reps.”

c) “That the Green Party / Comhaontas Glas election task force target seats well to ensure best use of limited resource that into count the votes from the local elections and gender balance, also that in certain areas the option of running multiple candidates should be explored”.

Motion 22 – Renew the RepublicProposer: Brussels Greens

• Recognising that 2016 is the centenary of the Easter Rising, and deploring that Ireland remains so far from the social and political vision of the 1916 Proclamation;

• Recognising that the faith of a strong majority of Irish people in the political system has been severely damaged in the light of the economic collapse, and that this has in turn led to resistance to government policy, as we have seen in the water charges protests;

• Recognising the failure of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition to honour their commitments to political reform;

• Recognising the good work performed by the constitutional convention, despite their severely limited remit and unsatisfactory lack of tangible outcomes, and the good work on political engagement and political reform being done by civil society groups such as the People’s Conversation, Second Republic, etc., but also the need for this work to be translated into concrete policy;

• Seeing that all political parties in the Republic of Ireland, established and nascent, are exhibiting a dearth of policies sufficient to restore the faith of the Irish people in their political system, to ensure that we avoid the mistakes of the recent past and to realise the opportunities, economic, social and environmental of a world experiencing a period of accelerating change;

• Recognising that the 1937 Constitution, while containing items of worth is no longer fit for purpose, having been submitted to over 40 amendments, the majority in the past four decades, and yet still containing directives on social policy, the role of women and blasphemy, and others that do not enjoy any significant level of support;

• Recognising that the Irish legislature in Dáil Éireann is one of the weakest in western Europe, serving as a rubber stamp for the executive branch, which utilises it’s majority to dominate and control all aspects of its work;

• Recognising that Ireland needs a strong, independent parliament that will actually hold governments to account, whose members will engage in their work as national legislators as well as local representatives, and where consensus and cooperation between government and opposition can produce stronger legislation and better governance;

• Acknowledging the positive example set by the parliaments of Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and others in this regard, where strong committees, opposition input into legislation and more effective parliamentary rules and procedures result in much stronger and more effective legislatures;

• Recognising also the extraordinarily weak position and basis of local government in Ireland, and the deleterious effects this has on public policy;

• Recognising the precedent of renewal of republican principles through radical constitutional change, such as that seen in post Soviet Eastern Europe and elsewhere:

The Green Party will:• Seek to renew the faith of the Irish people in the

political system through its radical reconstruction and the declaration of a Second Republic;

• Make the establishment of a Constitutional Convention to transform the constitution and declare a Second Republic a priority during the next Dáil and

Seanad;• That the convention should begin its work in 2016• That this convention should consist of selected

academic experts, representative members of the public, a small and limited number of experienced politicians, and others as deemed appropriate;

• That this process should seek throughout to be as consultative, transparent and wide in it’s discourse as possible, and should seek to engage the entire population in its deliberations;

• That this constitutional convention should endeavour to complete it’s work within two and a half years;

• That the aim of the convention are:• The assessment of the existing constitution• The drafting of a replacement constitution• The consideration of new directive principles

for Irish society• In-depth consideration and recommendations

on the political system of the new constitution, particularly the relationship between the executive and legislative branches, the role and powers of local government, the role and duties of elected representatives, and the role of the electoral system in guaranteeing democratic representation and good governance;

• That nothing be off the table, outside of Ireland’s EU and international obligations – including the structure of the government and of the legislature, the role of head of state, the role of local government, the

• That this convention would produce a new constitution to be put before the people in a popular vote;

• Seek to advance it’s own vision of a second Irish Republic, which would include but not be limited to:• The enshrining of protection of the

environment in the constitution;• A strong legislature with significant

independence from the executive branch and which would hold governments more properly accountable;

• New parliamentary rules to avoid the use of guillotining, to promote strong committees and more consensual drafting of legislation;

• Change the way that government ministers report on the work of their departments – ministers should not be responsible for every act of every civil servant under their jurisdiction, but should be obliged to release all relevant information as demanded by the legislature unless extreme extenuating circumstances apply;

• Local government with powers of local revenue raising and dramatically increased authority over areas such as education, planning, health, policing and other local issues;

• A change of the electoral system to one better suited to delivering nationally minded legislators; seek the reform of multi-seat constituencies for the national parliament and the establishment of one single Irish constituency for European elections, in line with 22 other EU member states;

• An upper house that would represent civil society, social partners and local government, and would have the power to amend legislation from the lower house.

• The possibility of a citizen initiated referendum, along the lines of the Swiss model.

You can make a difference

Hopefully this year’s convention will have convinced you that the Green Party has a vital role to play in the months and years ahead.

We need as much help as possible with our mission to make Ireland a better, fairer, greener place for everybody - especially as we prepare to contest the approaching General Election. This is where you come in. Here are three simple things you can do to make a difference:

1. Donate today at greenparty.ie/donate or at one of our buckets over the weekend

2. Offer to help your General Election Candidate3. Find and convince two people to join

the party in the next 12 months.

Documents

action ideas into - TheJournal.iecdn.thejournal.ie/media/2015/03/convention2015_brochure_v5.pdf · 3.40pm-4.10pm Candidates Session: election focused discussion • Cara Augustenborg