Northern Ireland Green to go for all island Chair…
It seems that John Barry co-chair of the Northern Ireland Regional Council of the Green Party, is to run for chair of the Green Party in Ireland. He states he made his decision:
“…in the context of being in government in the Republic and in opposition on the Northern Ireland Assembly, we need more than ever an all island focus and a focus on members, innovation, imagination and creativity to realise the opportunities for the Party to herald a new configuration of politics not only on this island, but between these islands.”
Good news, for the Greens and politics here in general. It would certainly strengthen their voice in the Assembly.
It’s a perfectly healthy development. Green politics is not only North/South and East/West but global.
The whole world isn’t divided into Nationalist & Unionist….
“…in the context of being in government in the Republic and in opposition on the Northern Ireland Assembly, we need more than ever an all island focus… to herald a new configuration of politics not only on this island, but between these islands.â€
Is that to say that only now that Northern Ireland is starting to recover from the Troubles and the Republic is one of the richest nations in the world that they deserve good government?
JD, he’s probably just lost the Unionist segment of the Greens vote; the lingo could have been harvested from the Hume archives.
Unionist segment of the Greens vote ?
What are you talking about!
SDLP were never in government in the south and opposition in the North.
Greens accept the current constitutional arrangements as voted by all the people of the island and despite my problems with their being in government with Fianna Fail there is a real opportunity for some progressive politics.
John barry would be a good choice for chair and help to adjust the Greens to changing realities island wide
Rapunsel, I presume the Greens attract votes from those who are Unionist but who are not be die-hard supporters of Unionist parties. Barry is espousing the ‘island’ language of Hume, not the language of the 1998 Agreement.
Are they becoming a green Green party?!
Are they becoming a green Green party?
It seems they are just being sensible. All-island based decisions make sense and will bring more benefits in the years to come.
RG, a ‘green’ approach to an ‘orange and green’ problem looks like the apartheid route ..
should they call themselves the green and orange party Nevin?
(and lobby that other green partie do the same for fear of offending people who have a mind so narrow as to automatically associate green with irish nationalism?)
Just wondering like….
No, circles. If they want to follow the ‘island’ apartheid route …
Nevin
Are you a disaffected member?
Do you not realise that the Green party is an all Ireland and all Island party already?
I say good luck to John.
I had the privilege of being taught by him at QUB in first year politics. The guy is a brilliant lecturer, a world reknowned expert in his field, and a thoroughly top bloke if you ever have the chance to meet him socially.
Greens are lucky to have him IMHO.