Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said “now is not the time for tinkering at the edges” when it comes to climate change.
Mr Ryan’s call for radical reform came as part of the Green Party’s Annual Convention took place this weekend in Dublin.
More than 500 party members from across the country gathered together at the Law Society in Blackhall Place to discuss public transport, farming – and entering Government in the next election.
Following the party’s recent election success, the Greens now have 49 local councillors, as well as two MEPs in Europe, including Grace O’Sullivan and Ciaran Cuffe.
With agriculture a hot topic following this week’s protests from farmers over the Mercusor Trade deal, Cork County Councillor Lorna Bogue said she’s had to fend off questions about her diet.
She told delegates: “Journalists have been asking me about my diet recently. I say, eat the rich!”
In his address to delegates, party leader Mr Ryan said Ireland must choose between the politics of fear and the politics of hope. He took the Government to task on their lack of action regarding the creation of cycle lanes and sustainable transport.
Mr Ryan, TD for Dublin Bay South, said: “The choice for us today is between the politics of hope and the politics of fear. Which will be the guiding light for where we might go from here?
“I believe we should stand for the politics of hope. Not just blind faith in the power of technology or market forces but more a sense that taking the path to tackle the environmental challenges we face can bring us together as a people.”
He criticised Irish and international leaders who play on people’s fears. He said the Greens’ recent election success shows the public’s support for the party – which Mr Ryan says “is the natural antidote to such politics of antagonism and fear”.
The former Communications Minister insisted that if his party wants to bring about real change it must be prepared to enter Government after the next election.
He added: “More than ever we need to move all Irish politics in a new green direction.
“The scale and speed of change we need to make is so great that we have to make sure that at least the next five Governments in a row are bought into taking real climate action.”
Mr Ryan told how the country needs leaders who are prepared to bring about radical change, for the sake of the environment and future generations.
He said: “Whoever goes into Government next will have to be willing to be radical with the scale of the transition that we have to make. It is not a time for tinkering at the edges or supporting business as usual.
“It a bottom up as well as top down revolution. Every person and every place matters. There is a job to be done and we are the ones to do it.”
