Green Party convention:The crucial debate at last night's Green Party conference was described as "emotional" and at times tearful. Supporters of the coalition deal stressed the opportunity to achieve practical results in government.
Opponents highlighted the failure to end the use of Shannon by US troops en route to Iraq and warned that Fianna Fáil "will gobble us up". Dublin North TD Trevor Sargent, who announced he was keeping his commitment to step down as party leader, received a standing ovation before he began to speak.
In a critical intervention supporting the deal, he said the party had to "roll up its sleeves" and tackle the issue of climate change. He also indicated that the Greens would get two senior ministries in the new government.
According to sources inside the conference, which was held in private, Mr Sargent said the party's future was more important than his own future as leader, adding: "I am happy to step down and keep my commitment to the Irish people." A contest to choose the new leader is expected over the next month or so, but there may be consensus on a successor.
The most prominent speaker against the motion was former Dublin MEP Patricia McKenna, who reportedly said she had a "huge issue" with Shannon and could not live with her conscience if she voted Yes.
Shannon airport campaigner Ed Horgan was quoted as saying he was "filled with sadness" at the prospect of a coalition with Fianna Fáil, which offered "Mercs and perks", but little else. Condemning the role of US forces in the Middle East, he said the Greens were "supping with the devil" and, if they entered a coalition, they would be complicit in deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dublin Mid West TD Paul Gogarty said it was "lonely" on the Opposition benches, according to sources. He said the document agreed with Fianna Fáil contained a lot that he disliked, but it also allowed the Greens to make progress in important areas.Newly elected Carlow-Kilkenny TD and deputy leader Mary White said it was not a "tremendous" or even a good deal but it was "good enough" to allow the party to decide to go in.
Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats' plans for co-location of private hospitals on public hospital land were said to be "a major concern" to speakers against the motion.
Speakers in favour of the motion argued that the Greens would have to wait a long time for another opportunity to participate in government. Sources said there was "a lot of emphasis on the experience and integrity of our own TDs". The urgency of addressing the problem of climate change was emphasised by supporters of a coalition.
Criticisms of Fianna Fáil were greeted with applause but so too were arguments that it was "now or never" and the Greens should accept the deal on offer. There was reported to be unanimous support for government participation from the party's negotiating team, the "reference group" which oversaw the talks and the parliamentary party.
Speakers' names were drawn from a hat. About two-thirds of those wishing to speak indicated they were in favour of the motion, with one-third against and slots allocated on that basis.
For the first hour, the result was said to be "touch and go", but as the meeting passed the halfway stage, according to one of the deal's opponents, it looked like the motion would pass because so many members were "mad keen to go into government".
The debate was described by one senior party member as a "back and forth" affair which was "very emotional" and at times tearful. An opponent of the deal commented that "Trevor kept his word and resigned as leader but will be a minister anyway".
