The Green Party made a major breakthrough at the European Elections in 1994 when Patricia McKenna (Dublin) and Nuala Ahern (Leinster) were elected to the European Parliament. In 1994 Patricia McKenna topped the poll in Dublin while Nuala Ahern took a seat in Leinster with 11.8 per cent of the vote making her the only woman elected in a rural constituency.

Both Green MEPs, as members of the Green Group in the European Parliament, immediately set about one of the Green's main missions to bring European issues to the doorsteps of their constituents in Dublin and Leinster. For many, the European Parliament had been perceived by many Irish people as a "rest home" for ageing Irish politicians. Both Nuala and Patricia were adamant that this image should change and have since distinguished themselves as outstanding parliamentarians and hard-working advocates of Irish people's real concerns.

Some of the successes of the Greens have included the protection of consumers in maintaining the ban of growth hormones in cattle, the banning of certain antibiotics in animal feedstuffs, the banning of pesticides in food, advancing nuclear safety regulations and creating the debate on genetic engineering.

One of the most consistent criticisms hurled at the Green Party is that we are "anti-Europe". The Green Party is not anti-Europe but it is critical of the direction in which the EU is moving. For instance, we are the only Party that has constantly warned against the militarisation of the EU. We are also critical of Irish legislation put before the Dail: but does that make us anti-Irish? The Greens take a critical perspective on Europe and part of that critical perspective is that the EU is too economically-driven and not enough people/social issue driven.

So why vote Green? Green Parties are one of the fastest growing political movements in Europe and are in government in some of the most influential countries: Germany, France, Italy and Finland. Voting Green means electing powerful voices and campaigners against Sellafield and all nuclear power, it means electing proven advocates of Ireland's positive, active neutrality and independent foreign policy, it means electing protectors of our environment and protectors of safe food and it means electing watchdogs for our civil liberties and our democracy. Our vision for Europe centres on improving the standards of ecological, social and democratic rights, above all else, it means improving our quality of life. A vote for the Greens is a vote for quality of life.