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Set Theatre, Kilkenn. 18-20 Ma 2012

Convention 2012

Our annual gathering to

examine Irelands environmental,European and economic uture!


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Page 2 | Convention 2012

We meet this weekend ree

rom government, ree rom

elections or the next short

while, and ree to rethink and

imagine a new uture or our

countr and or our Part.

There are important

procedures we have to go

through, in electing people

to run the Part, in deciding

what view we take on the

Fiscal Compact Treat, and in

considering the other motions

that have been put orward b

local groups.

But we also have the chance

to get involved in moreinormal debate to listen

to our international guests

debate what uture the see

or the European Union; to

question what new business

and economic models we

need as we pick up the pieces

rom our economic crash; and,

perhaps more importantl

than anthing else, to talk and

listen to each other about how

we can progress our green

Leaders welcome

political vision so we can win

back the hearts and minds o

the Irish people.

I cannot think o a better

venue than the Castalia Centre,

where we are going to onSunda morning, to make that

happen.

Man thanks to Councillor

Malcolm Noonan and our

local members, and man

man thanks to Alison, Ann,

Karen and Darc or making it

happen.

A Chairde Gls,

Ba mhaith liom ilte mr a

thabhairt chuig gach inne go

dt an Ard Fheis 2012 sa cathair

stairil agus glas; Chill Chainnigh!

Dear colleagues, on behal o the

Carlow Kilkenny Constituency

group, I would like to extend

a warm welcome to delegates

rom across the Island o Ireland

to Convention 2012.

This is a critical time or our

party and indeed or ecological

politics in Ireland, Europe and

worldwide. The consensuso business as usual political

thinking and the obsession

with economic growth as the

solution to the debt crisis will

ensure that the space or ecology

in the discourse will remain

limited. It alls on us as part o

a global political movement to

make our voice heard on behal

o many who are conscious o

the indierence o mainstream

politics towards sustainabledevelopment and to the twin

crises o climate and energy.

As we gather here in Kilkenny

this weekend, it is my hope that

we can continue to rebuild the

Green Party in Ireland; Stephen

and his team are ying the ag

in Northern Ireland and success

in the local and London Mayoral

elections gives us great hope

that our message is beginning to

A message rom Malcom

break through

rom the narrow

connes o

let and right

politics.

But we have

some very hard work ahead;

success will be measured by the

local and European elections in

2014. Our ew public reps in local

authorities across the state need

the support o having Green

colleagues by their side, ghting

or the green agenda and social

justice.

So I hope that you will stay

with us or what promises tobe a challenging but rewarding

weekend both in the Set Theatre

and in the stunning venue that

is Castalia in Ballytobin. Ours

is largely a voluntary political

organisation now, and we are

most grateul to everyone

who still believes that we

have something vital to oer

Irish politics. I look orward

to meeting you all over the

weekend and hope you get time

to savour our vibrant little city.

Beir beannacht,

Malcolm

Cllr Malcolm Noonan

Spokesperson or Environment,

Community and Local

Government

Voting cardThe voting card has six sections Vote A to Vote F. In the event o a

closeshow o hands vote, where it is dicult to determine the exact

numbers in the short time available we will ask members to detach

the section relevant to the vote and deposit it in a ballot box where it

can be easily counted.

It is very important that once you have collected your voting card

rom registration that you keep it sae. We cannot reissue voting

cards. We recommend when you collect it that you write your name

on the card and perhaps a phone number so that i it is ound we can

return it to you.

Convention cant happen withoutthe hard work and commitmento so man dedicated Green PartVolunteers. Their generous spirit,skills and energ are so important toConvention and we deepl appreciatethem sharing those talents with usand with all our delegates.

A huge thank ou

Appeals committee:Elizabeth Davidson (Dublin SW / Dublin); Mar Rice (Carlow-

Kilkenny / East); John Goodwillie (Dublin SC / Dublin); JohnBolger (Carlow-Kilkenny / East); Ran Meade (Dublin SE / Dublin);

Dann Forde (Wexord / East); Michael Power (Waterord /

South); Ben Ran (Mayo / North West). Vacant (at present):

North West and Northern Ireland.


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Convention 2012 | Page 3

FRIDAy 18 MAy 2012: Focus on Local Government

7.00 pm How do we engage women in the Green Party?

7.45 pm Green Party Councillors the work o a Councillor

8.30 pm Presentation o the new Local Government Policy

ollowed by debate, discussion and Q&A session.

10.00 pm Friday evening session closes. Adjourn to Langtons

where discussion will no doubt continue!

SATURDAy 19 MAy 2012: AGM, Focus on Economic Reorm and

Europe

9.00 am Registration

9.30 am Treasurers Report

9.45 am National Council Report

9.55 am Young Greens Report Adam Douglas

10.10 am Chair o NEC Report Catherine Fravalo

10.25 am Motions

11.00 am Coee Break

11.15 am Debate on Fiscal Compact Treaty. Motions and

speakers.12.30 pm NEC Elections Candidates address delegates

1.00 pm Distribution o Ballot Papers or votes on:

Fiscal Compact Treaty Position

NEC Elections

Ballot Box opens

LUNCH Delicious quick lunch options in Langtons

2.00 pm Ballot Box Closes

2.00 pm Cathaoirleach Address Roderic OGorman

2.10 pm The Future o Europe. Guest Speakers:

JeanLambert,MEP

ManuelSarrazin, German Greens Spokesperson

on European policy.

Discussion and Q+A

3.10 pm New models or work Basic Income. Contributors:

Michael Tat and Anne B. Ryan. Discussion and Q+A

4.10 pm NEC Election Results

4.30 pm Deputy Leader speech Catherine Martin

4.35 pm Party Leader speech Eamon Ryan

5.00 pm Motions

6.00 pm Session Ends

Adjourn to Langtons to enjoy the Heineken Cup Final

on the big screen.

Saturday Night Social: Relaxed, social gathering or dinner in

Langtons at 7pm. Pre-booking is essential.

Adjourn to Harrys Bar in Langtons or ceoil agus craic!

SUNDAy 20 MAy 2012

Join us or a truly special session in the auditorium o the Camphill

Community at Castalia

10.30 am Meet at Kilkenny Castle or bus to Castalia (dont orget

your packed lunch!)

11.00 am Overview o the Castalia Project Patrick Lydon CEO

o Castalia

11.15 am What is our Agenda 21 now? Discussion with

contributions rom Michael Ewing and Jeremy Wates

plus Q&A.

1.00 pm Time at leisure to view the project and the AnaerobicDigester

LUNCH bring a picnic basket and enjoy the beautiul space and

atmosphere o Castalia.

2.30 pm Bus returns to Kilkenny

Running orderSHOW TIME: Killkennys Set Theatre

Catering

Dinner Menu

Homemade Vegetable Soup served with resh Brown Bread

Langtons style Salmon Stued Mushrooms

Crispy Bacon and Pineapple Salad

***

Thai Green Vegetable Curry

Pasta o the day

Oven Baked Salmon with House Mash, Lemon and Dill Cream

Sirloin Steak with Onion Rings and Pepper Sauce

Traditional Turkey and Ham with Stufng and Pan Jus

***

Apple Pie

Langton Style Cheesecake

Baileys and Brown Bread Ice Cream Gateaux

***

Tea and Freshly brewed Coee

Delicious quick lunch options will be served in Langtons onSaturda lunchtime, while there will be a special ConventionDinner on Saturda evening. Book our place or dinner at ourRegistration Desk


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NEC elections

Nominees will have one minute each toaddress voting delegates rom the stage.All members who are paid up or 2012 andnot probationar are entitled to vote. Ballot

papers will be distributed on Saturda anddelegates should vote immediatel.

Please note: the ollowing proles appear inchronological order, while the ballot paper israndomised b order o names drawn b lot.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) iscomparable to the board o a compan. Itmeets on a bi-monthl basis and is made upo the Part Leader, Part Deput Leader,

Part Chairperson, Part Treasurer, a youngGreens representative and ten Part memberselected annuall at convention.

NEC Candidates or 2012

Member Dil

ConstituencGroup

Region

Michael Bermingham Dublin South Dublin

Catherine Fravalo Dublin South Dublin

Dann Forde Wexord East

Tom Kivlehan Dublin South Dublin

Clare Baile NI South Belast NorthernIreland


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Thomas Bibb Limerick South

Damon Matthew Wise Clare North West

Roger Lamb Dublin North Dublin

Sharon Waters Dublin SouthEast

Dublin

Darc Lonergan Cavan/Monaghan

North West

Miriam Henness Roscommon North West

Zoe Nelson Dublin North Dublin

Clona Kimber Dublin SouthEast

Dublin


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Standing orders(as passed by National Council 2 December 2006)

Cathaoirleach

1. Convention will be

chaired primarily by the

Cathaoirleach who may

appoint substitutes

to chair parts o the

meeting, minute takers

and tellers.

Adoption o the agenda

2. At the commencement

the Chairperson shall

propose the Agenda or

adoption. Convention

may also consider

taking Emergency

Motions that relate

to events or changes

in circumstances thatprevented them being

submitted in time or

inclusion, and may

consider where they

should be placed on

the Agenda.

Conduct o the meeting

3. Those attending

may speak only at

the invitation o the

Chairperson. The

Chairperson may take

into account i a person

has not spoken beore

or has spoken too

oten, and immediate

replies or points o

order may be allowed

at the Chairpersons

discretion.

4. The decisions o the

Chairperson shall

be respected by all

those present. Any

dispute in relation to

voting procedures

will be decided by

the Chairperson. The

Chairperson may ask

a delegate to leave

the meeting i they

repeatedly ail to

respect decisions o the

Chairperson.

5. The Chairperson may

suspend the meeting

i, in his or her opinion,there is grave disorder.

Motions

6. A Motion must

be proposed at

the meeting by a

representative o the

body proposing the

Motion and seconded

by another delegate;

ailing this, the

Resolution alls.

7. Amendments will be

taken in the order in

which they occur in

the text o the motion

and will be decided on

beore the nal motion

is put to a decision.

8. Amendments which

have not been

submitted in advance

shall be taken only ithey are compromises

and do not cover new

matter.

9. The Chairperson

may request that all

delegates who wish

to speak on a motion

must give their names

in advance, stating

whether they want

to speak in avour

o or against themotion. Delegates

must be inormed

o the deadline to

submit their names

when circulated with

the list o motions.

The Convention

Subcommittee may

put a limit on the

number o speaking

opportunities a

delegate may request.

I not all speakers can

be accommodated

in the time available,

the Convention

Subcommittee may

give some priority to

elected representatives

and election candidates

but some other

delegates must be

included as well. The

number o speakers

chosen to speak oror against a motion

must reect the overall

balance o those

requesting to speak.

Manuel SarrazinMdB

Manuel become a

Member o the German

Bundestag in 2008 rom

the Hamburg State

List. Since 2009 he has

been a spokesperson

or European Polic.

He is a Member o

the Parliamentar

Assembl o the Counciland is Chairman o the

Alliance 90/The Greens

in the Bundestag.

Jean Lambert, MEPor London

Jean is one o the UKs

two Green MEPs and

brings a radical Green

perspective to European

debates. She is a hugely

active participant within

the European Parliament

structure. and sits on

the Employment and

Social Aairs; and theCivil Liberties, Justice and

Home Aairs committees.

Michael Tat

Michael is economic

researcher with the

Unite Trade Union. He

is a regular contributor

to the Irish Let

and TASC as well as

being a sought ater

commentator on a

range o economic

issues.

Guest speakers

Anne B. Ran

Anne has been

researching and writing

about the philosophy o

enough or many years.

She regularly conducts

workshops and seminars

on sustainable living,

positive utures and

balanced living. She is

currently employed as

a university lecturer in

adult and community

education at NUIM and is

author o the acclaimed

book Enough is Plenty.

Michael Ewing

Michael Ewing is the

Coordinator o the

Environmental Pillar,

a coalition o 27

national environmental

NGOs and o the

Irish Environmental

Network. He has

also worked as a

acilitator and as anconsultant in the elds

o environmental

governance and

ecolog.

Jerem Wates

Jeremy Wates is the

Secretary General o the

European Environmental

Bureau, Europes

largest ederation

o environmental

organizations. Prior to

this, Jeremy served as

Secretary to the Aarhus

Convention. In the

1980s, he ounded the

Irish environmental

organization Earthwatch,

the Irish member o

Friends o the Earth

International.

The proposer o the

motion will speak rst,

ollowed by proposers

o any amendments. Theproposer, or another

member o the proposing

group, will have an

opportunity to sum up.

When the time or debate

has, in the opinion o the

Chairperson, elapsed, the

Chairperson may put thequestion.

10. The Chairperson may

decide to put a motion

to the meeting without

debate. I no delegate has

declared a wish to speak

against the motion.

Suspending standingorders

11. Any o these standing

orders may be suspended

by a 75% majority.


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Motions and Polic

Debate on First Drato Local Government

Polic and one relevantmotion

This policy document will be

presented to Convention, with

areas where there is some

element o disagreement

highlighted. The chair o

the session will then take

contributions rom the oor. The

chair may take indicative votes

to gauge delegates views on

the contentious elements o the

document.

Local GovernmentPolic - First Drat

Proposed b Local Government

Polic Group

LOCAL GOVERMENT

STRUCTURE

1. The Green Party advocates

the replacement o the present

structure o county, city andtown councils by a new structure

based on elected regional and

district councils.

2. There would be 5 to 8

regions. Each region would

include at least one o the

gateways in the National Spatial

Strategy.

3. Regional councils would

have 1 member or every 15,000

to 20,000 people.

Regional councillors would be

ull-time.

ALTERNATIVE: The

Cathaoirleach/Mayor and a

number o other members such

as members o the corporate

policy group would be ull-time;

chairs would be distributed

proportionally among the

parties.

4. Other than in the Dublin

region, districts would centre

on a town and include the

hinterland o the town, insuch a way that all parts o the

country would be part o some

district. The largest towns and

cities would not be broken up

so that the districts centering on

them would have a much larger

population.

Districts would have a

minimum population o about

20,000. It is calculated that

the number o districts to be

ormed by this method would

be less than 100 and that most

existing town councils would

be the ocus o a new district

council. Some districts might

be composed o the whole

o a small county. OPTIONAL

ADDITION TO THIS: Provision

should be made or theormation by local reerendum

o community or parish councils

with control over a certain

amount o locally-raised taxes.

ALTERNATIVE: Districts would

have a minimum population o

about 10,000. It is calculated that

the number o districts to be

ormed by this method would

be in the order o 150 and that

almost all existing town councils

would be the ocus o a new

district council.

5. Districts in the Dublin region

would have larger populations

and the Dublin regional council

would exercise some powers

that would be at district council

level elsewhere. The existing city

council and 3 county councils

would be replaced by this

system.

6. District councils would as a

minimum have 9 members. This

number would rise or districtswith larger populations: 13

members or 40,000 people, 17

or 60,000, 21 or 80,000, 25 or

100,000.

ALTERNATIVE (NOT

APPLICABLE TO THE

ALTERNATIVE IN PARAGRAPH 4,

i.e. districts o 10,000 people):

District councils would as a

minimum have 15 members. This

number would rise or districts

with larger populations: 19 members or 35,000

people,

25 members or 50,000

people,


people,


people.

7. County councils would be

phased out over a number o

years. In the interim they would

be composed o representatives

o the district councils elected or

a ve-year term.

8. In some cases the ormation

o districts on the basis o taking

in the suburbs and hinterland

o a town would indicate the

crossing o county boundaries.

In these cases there would be

local plebiscites to determine

the extent to which this would

happen. The entire district thus

ormed would be come under

only one o the residual countycouncils.

9. The ending o administrative

counties would not aect

the continuing existence o

geographical counties or

cultural, sporting, etc. activities.

10. Regional councils would

absorb the roles o the present

regional assemblies and regional

authorities, would take some

powers rom central government

and, over time, some powers

rom the existing county and city

councils.

11. District councils would

absorb the roles o town councils

and, over time, the remaining

powers o county and city

councils. District councils based

on large towns and cities might

exercise some unctions which

would normally be at regional

levels. Districts might decide

to continue to share unctions

through joint committees evenater the elimination o the

county council structure.

12. Local elections would

take place on the same day

throughout the country.

ALTERNATIVE: Regional council

elections and district council

elections would take place on

dierent days.

ALTERNATIVE: Local elections

would take place twice a year

on a staggered basis, eachindividual council being elected

or 5 years.

13. Subject to certain criteria,

local reerendums could be

held on the petition o a certain

proportion o the electorate.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

MANAGEMENT

1. The present managerial

system should be replaced

by a system based on putting

decision-making power into

the hands o elected people.

This needs to be accompanied

by certain provisions guarding

against the misuse o power.

2. Each local authority,

whether regional council,

district council, or residual

county council in the process

o being phased out, should

have a ull-time cathaoirleach

or mayor, chosen or veyears and with the duty o

proposing policy to the council.

Councils could decide to have

a local reerendum whether the

cathaoirleach/mayor should be

elected by the council or directly

elected by the voters. The

cathaoirleach/mayor would chair

a corporate policy group whose

members, also chosen or ve

years, would head departmental

committees.

3. The position o present

managers and town clerks would

be transormed into that o chie

executive. The chie executive

would be chosen by the Local

Appointments Commission

with the participation o the

cathaoirleach/mayor, and would

have control over stang and

administration and the awarding

o contracts. There should be

a high degree o transparency

on contracts and accounts. Thereporting role o the Local

Government Audit Service

should be strengthened to

ensure greater accountability

or public expenditure to the

Government and Oireachtas and

the authority itsel. The chie

executive would be obliged to

carry out council decisions which

were in accordance with the

law, provided or by the budget,

and not contrary to an adoptedpolicy.

4. The power o the Minister

to abolish a local council or not

adopting a budget should be

Frida 18th Ma: 8:30-10:00 PM


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be discussed and a vote taken

at that meeting. Otherwise, the

Chair o National Council will

set a date or a meeting to deal

with the matter. The Chair will

appoint a Returning Ocer to

oversee the vote. The vote shall

be conducted amongst those

present or teleconerencing insuch a manner to ensure that

nobody, other than possibly

the Returning Ocer, will know

how any member voted and the

Returning Ocer will be bound

by condentiality.

2. Polic Group Membership

2.1 An e-mail will be circulated

to members inorming them

o the ormation o a new

Group and how to apply to bea member. The composition o

the Policy Group shall be subject

to acceptance by National

Council or the Policy Steering

Committee.

2.2 A Policy Group may

decide to close its membership

i it is in the process o drating

policy. This is to avoid a situation

where new members might join

a group to sway a particular

debate that has arisen. I a

decision is made to close the

membership, the Convenor must

inorm the Chair o National

Council. The Policy Steering

Committee or National Council

can overturn such a decision i

it wishes. Any member who is

reused membership may write

to the Policy Steering Committee

outlining their reasons to join

and the PSC may instruct the

Convenor to admit the person

to the Group, i they believethat there is a suciently good

reason.

2.3 The list o members o a

Policy Group will be maintained

replaced by a provision allowing

the chie executive to adopt a

budget where the council ailed

to do so.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

1. Local authorities should be

responsible or raising a large

part o their income. They must

have the power to adopt a

high-tax high-services policy or a

low-tax low-services policy.

2. Local authority taxation

would be limited by any national

policy on public sector nance.

3. As local areas do not have

equal economies, an equalisation

und is necessary. The purpose

o an equalisation und is not

that taxes should be equal, but

that each authority should havethe same starting point rom

which to adopt its policies. Thus,

areas with a low tax base would

receive a subsidy which would

not be received by areas with a

high tax base.

4. Government grants given

to local authorities should in

general not be linked to specic

projects, but be available

or dividing among the various

local authority unctions at the

option o the authority.

5. The Green Party advocates

that the principal local tax should

be one on site value.

Example o the proposal or

regions: ve-region option (see

Local government structure

paragraph 2)

Polic Motion 1: Local

Government polic andtraditional boundaries

Proposer: Tipperar South

That the Green Party in its

proposal on local Government

Reorm is very aware o local

and regional boundaries and the

loyalties that they hold in the

populace.

Explanation: What I havenoted in the white paper is

the ngerprints o the civil

service all over it. We are a

political part rst and the

paper must reect political

issues and views. The working

o administrative unctions

is a job or the civil service

and the will make it ver

convoluted and opaque

without an encouragement.

To get the public bu in the

reorm o local government

must grab attention and keep

it so it must be simple the (kiss

principle).

It must be based on alread

accepted boundaries and I

suggest that the Green Part

take a lea out o the Northern

Ireland Assembl as ollows

There is room or 4

assemblies with broadl

similar powers to our

riends urther North

The assemblies couldbe known cuige ie

Cuaige Muhain ; Cuaige

Ulad agus Connaught ;

Cuaige Laighean ; Cuaige

Baile Atha Liath and

ollow established

boundries with the count

structure let intact

Each Assembl has a

sucent population

base to unction as a

, re authorit, waterauthorit, sanitation

authorit, planning

authorit,industrial

development authorit

and the list goes on and

on. (Sweden,Poland,

Denmark etc)

Excise, taxation, deense,

justice, education,of

shore shing,

agriculture etc should

remain with the central

government The design is somewhat

similar to a ederal sstem

and this will ensure bu

in as the count structure

is maintained and local

identit is enhanced and

it nto the Northern Ireland

developments also.

From a rural perspective

the sporting and

count organisational

identication is huge andan political part ignores

itattheirperil

No one will sing songs

or wave ags in support

o a dogs dinner o hal

counties and abscure river

basin districts it is optics

and loalties alwas and

not size.

Technical Motions

Technical MotionA: New Rules andProcedures or PolicGroups

Propos er: NEC

1. Polic Group Convenor and

Lead Spokesperson

1.1 The method o appointing

the Convenor will be determined

by the body which has created

the Policy Group.

1.2 As some policy areas

may cross a number o

Spokespersons responsibilities,

the body which creates thePolicy Group will identiy which

Party Spokesperson will act as

the Lead Spokesperson or the

Group.

1.3 The Convenor will act as

chairperson or the Policy Group.

In the event that the Convenor

is unable to take the chair or all

or part o the meeting, s/he will

appoint an Acting Chairperson.

In the event that the Convenor

has ailed to appoint an Acting

Chairperson or a meeting, that

meeting may elect an Acting

Chairperson or the meeting.

1.4 At least three members

o a Policy Group may seek a

vote o no-condence in the

Convenor by means o a written

request to the Chair o National

Council. The Chair must inorm

the Convenor as soon as possible

but must not disclose the names

o the members involved. I a

date has already been set or thenext Group meeting, and the

Convenor has been inormed o

the request at least one week

beore that date, the matter may

Saturda 19th Ma: Motion Debates

10:25-11:00am and 5:00-6:00pm


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Saturda 19th Ma: 11:15am-12:30pm

by Head Oce. The Convenor

must inorm Head Oce o any

changes to the membership.

Head oce must inorm the

Convenor i any member o theGroup leaves the Party.

2.4 Members are expected

to conduct themselves in

accordance with the party s

Policy on Dignity and Respect.

I the Convenor is unhappy

with the conduct o a member

o the Policy Group and all o

their eorts as chairperson o

the group to get the person

to comply with the Policy on

Dignity and Respect haveailed, the Convenor may ask

the Policy Steering Committee

or permission to remove the

person rom the Policy Group

membership. The PSC will give

the person an opportunity to

make their case, in writing as a

minimum, and can decide itsel

how much time and eort to

give the matter. The decision o

the PSC will be nal.

2.5 Only members o the Policy

Group are entitled to attend

its meetings or committee

meetings. Other members o

the Party may observe subject

to practical considerations.

Non-members o the Party may

be invited to make one-o

presentations. In such cases, the

Convenor or Subconvenor must

agree with the non-member on

the level o condentiality that

applies.

3. Polic Group Meetings

3.1 The date, time and venue

or meetings will be decided

by the Convenor. S/he will

consult Policy Group members

beore deciding and will make a

special eort to accommodate

the Lead Spokesperson. S/he

will include on the agenda anyitems requested by the Lead

Spokesperson.

3.2 It is recommended

that a regular date, time and

venue be established. It

is also recommended that

teleconerencing be made

available i practicable. Any

costs o teleconerencing will

have to be met by the members

using it, unless the Policy Group

establishes its own und to pay

or it.

3.3 I the Policy Steering

Committee is concerned that

the Policy Group is not meeting

as necessary to make progress,

it may authorise the Chair

o National Council to call a

meeting o the Policy Group. The

Chair o National Council may

appoint an Acting Chairperson i

the Convenor is unavailable or

such a meeting.

4. Steering Committee and

Sub-committees

4.1 A Policy Group may

establish its own Steering

Committee which can meet

between meetings o the ull

Group to ensure that work

is progressed. It is strongly

recommended that all members

o such a Steering Committee

should have particular tasks e.g.

drating, minuting, researching.4.2 A Policy Group may

establish Subcommittees to

work on policy on a particular

area within their overall

responsibilities. A Subconvenor

will be appointed by the

main Policy Group and the

Subconvenor will be responsible

or maintaining the membershipo the Subcommittee and

communicating with them.

5. Decisions

5.1 The rules that apply to

decision-making or all Green

Party / Comhaontas Glas

meetings are outlined in Section

6.1 o the Party Constitution.

5.2 The Policy Group

should operate within Terms

o Reerence and any other

guidance given by National

Council and the Policy Steering

Committee, or example using

standard policy templates or

ormats i so instructed.

6. Disputes

The Group and its members

should make every attempt to

resolve any dierences internally.

I however, a member o the

group is unhappy that they are

receiving air treatment theymay write to the Policy Steering

Committee. The PSC will decide

itsel how much time and eort

to give the matter and their

decision will be nal.

Explanation: There are

currentl no rules & procedures

for the establishment and

operation of policy groups. The

NEC, having consulted with

the National Council is seekingConventions approval for these

as it feels they cover the main

elements of appointment and

operation of policy groups.

Motionscontinue >>>>>

Technical Motion B:Changes to Green PartConstitution to allow

or greater clarit as tohow polic is dratedand how spokespersonand polic groupsinteract

[SEE INSERTED DOCUMENT]

Polic Motion 2: PublicOwnership o Water

SupplProposer: Dublin South East

The Green Party o Dublin

South East, acknowledging

the undamental importance

o a clean and guaranteed

water supply calls or Green

Party Policy to ensure that our

public water network remains

owned by the people o Ireland

through Government, never to

be privatised or used as nancial

security, and that Bunreacht Na

hEireann should be amended to

ensure this protection.

Debate on the FiscalTreat

The NEC has put two motions,

to be debated together, on

the agenda o the Annual

to determine i the party

should support or oppose the

reerendum

Motion i) The Green part

advocates a yes vote in the

reerendum on the Treat on

Stabilit, Coordination and

Governance in the Economic

and Monetar Union.

Motion ii) The Green Part

advocates a No vote in the

reerendum on the Treat on

Stabilit, Coordination and

Governance in the Economic

and Monetar Union.

Note: These two motions may

not be amended

Format:

There will be two Principal

Speakers or each motion - one

to propose and one to sum-up.

The speakers in between will be

drawn by lot.

The timetable or the debate

will be as ollows:

0.00 Chair introduces.

0.02 Proposer or motion A

10 mins

0.12 Proposer or motion B

10 mins

0.22 Speakers drawn by lot

max 2 mins each (16)

0:54 Sum-up rom proposer o

motion A 3 mins

0:57 Sum-up rom proposer o

motion B 3 mins

1:00 Vote


10/12


Polic Motion 3:ConstitutionalConvention

Proposer: Dublin West

The Green Party calls on the

Government to widen the scope

o the proposed Constitutional

Convention to include a

review o all elements o the

Constitution.

In particular, we believe the

Constitutional Convention

should look at issues such as:

Reorming the Seanad in

conjunction with the Dil

Enshrining socio-economicrights such as health,

housing and a right to

environment

Polic Motion 4:National ChildrensHospital

Proposer: Dublin South West

The Green Party Comhaontas

Glas calls or the consideration othe Tallaght Hospital site or the

new National Childrens Hospital.

Polic Motions 5:Independent PlanningInvestigations intoLocal Authorities

Proposer: Cork South Central

While the Minister or the

Environment, John Gormley

received complaints o

malpractice in local authorities

planning practices, in response

to which he initiated an external

enquiry into six authorities.

Convention :

Rearms this investigative

action

Condemns Phil Hogans

statement that it didnt

happen

Calls on Minister Hoganto reopen the external

investigation

Polic Motion 6:Retention o a modiedSeanad

Proposer: Waterord

To reect our Republican

Democracy, all senators should

be elected by the people. It

is important that the checks

and balances that the Senate

provides be retained and

enhanced.

Polic Motion 7:Recommendations o

Mahon ReportProposer: Dublin West

Green Party calls on the

Government to publish a report,

within one year o the date o the

publication o the Mahon Report,

outlining the measures it has

taken to respond to each o the

recommendations contained in

Chapter 18 o the Report.

Polic Motions 8: GMOFree Status

Proposer: Dublin South Central

The Green Party/Comhaontas

Glas recognises that the

maintenance o Irelands

Genetically Modied Organism

Free Status is critical to ully

developing Irelands potential as

an exporter o clean ood.

Explanation: On 27 February2012, Teagasc made a ormal

notication to the EPA

requesting consent or a 4-year

eld trial o GMO potatoes that

have been genetically modied.

The Dublin South Central branch

eel that this could be damaging

to the reputation o Ireland as a

clean ood island.

Polic Motions 9:Upgrading o SepticTanks

Proposer: Mao

That public unding should

be provided or upgrade and

inspection o all sewage systems,

including septic tanks and

municipal systems, provided

there had been conormity

with planning stipulations at

time o installation. This would

ensure compliance with EU

legislation, improving our water

quality, while at the same time

creating employment.

Explanation: Current policy

discriminates against those

who use a septic tank system, in

avour o those on a municipal

system. Owners are reluctant

to register septic tanks, as

they are earul o uture costs.

Public unding would ensure

that repairs are carried out,

even where owners cannot

aord to pay, and so encouragecompliance with EU legislation

on registration o septic

tanks. This would also ensure

inspection o all systems, public

and private, and would thereore

improve standards o efuent

and wastewater treatment

throughout the country. Lastly,

it would create much needed

jobs, many in rural areas. It is

suggested that revenue rom

carbon tax be used or this

purpose.

Polic Motions 10: Useo Heav Fuel Oil

Proposer: Waterord

Ban the combustion o Heavy

Fuel Oil (HFO) containing

chemical waste and used

lubricating oils.

Explanation: Most residual

crude oil uels, as imported

and burnt in our old HFO

power generating stations,

are blended with such wastes

torender them t or purpose by

increasing their caloric value

and reducing their viscosity.This is imported hazardous

waste incineration by stealth.

A measure o heavy metal

contamination and increased

levels o dioxin in the vicinity

o such stations is documented

by EPA and HSE Environmental

Health (Naas). The vicinity o

our old local ESB station, Great

Island, Co. Wexord, a sister to

Poolbeg power station, (now

owned by Endessa) can boast othe highest dioxin levels in the

nation rom measurements taken

in the 1980s. The Wexord HSE

Environmental Health Section

will conrm the very high levels

o heavy metals in the area, as

presented at a recent public

hearing on the proposed new

Endessa Gas Turbine plant to

commence soon on the site.

Waste lubricating oil burners

are openly advertised or sale in

Ireland. This practice should be

regulated in the interest o public

health and saety, as lubricating

oils contain additives such as

chlorine, sulphur, phosphorous,

sodium etc. as anti-scung and

viscosity thermal stabilising

agents.


11/12

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12/12

ou can make a

diferenceHopeull this ears convention will have convincedou that the Green Part has a vital role to pla in themonths and ears ahead.

We need as much help as possible with our misison

to make Ireland a better, airer, greener place oreverbod especiall as we prepare to contestEuropean and local government elections in 2014.This is where ou come in. Here are three simplethings that ou can do to make a diference:

1. Attend our local group meeting

2. Make a donation toda at greenpart.ie3. Find and convince two people to join the part inthe next 12 months.

convention2012brochure_finalforprint

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