The job of the Green Party is to minimise the vulnerability and inequality which the policies of other parties have created, its new leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, told delegates.
"Children are more vulnerable than ever to asthma. Communities are more vulnerable than ever to delays and traffic congestion. Rural communities are more vulnerable than ever to the threat of large dumps or incinerators.
"Students are more vulnerable than ever before to being taught by unqualified teachers. People in rented accommodation are more vulnerable than before to losing their homes and having no place to live. Communities are more vulnerable than ever to losing their post office, their local shop, their bus service." Mr Sargent, a TD for Dublin North, said that for almost 20 years the party had shunned the position of leader, which made Saturday's convention historic.
He said his term as leader, and that of the deputy leader, Ms Mary White, a councillor from Carlow-Kilkenny, had started against a backdrop of international turmoil and tragedy with the attacks in the US.
"Our party evolved from the peace movement and we are at one with the Irish Constitution in seeking pacific redress of all injustices. The perpetrators of these and other violent atrocities must be brought to justice, and we support all legitimate means to bring this about," he said.
"We will resist, however, any temptation to fight terror with terror, which would result in innocent people dying if military attacks are launched at 5.3 million famished and frightened civilians in Afghanistan.
"It is this determination to seek justice which makes us roundly condemn this Government for handing over without any conditions and the assent of Dβil ╔ireann the use of Irish airports for refuelling foreign military aircraft. Expensive military attacks failed to end tyranny in Iraq in 1991. Ten years later, another FF-PD coalition is more inclined to take directions from the White House than it is from Leinster House." Mr Sargent said that when he was born, in 1960, the top 20 per cent of the world's population was 30 times more wealthy than the bottom 20 per cent.
"Now, as I speak, the top 20 per cent has become 75 times more wealthy than our sisters and brothers in the bottom 20 per cent. Unless we strengthen all local economies, this vulnerability and inequality will get worse and worse.
"Internationalism and local economies can be compatible if sustainability is at the core of decision-making. To sustain the world's level of resource depletion, at present, would require five Earth-type planets. Maybe other parties have notions of migrating to another solar system in search of habitable planets. The Green Party is different because it is pragmatic and prepared to live by rules set by nature which humans flout at their peril." Mr Sargent said his party favoured the creation of an office of preventative medicine and healthy living with its own minister of state.
"To help improve quality of life, while maintaining competitiveness, we would shift the burden of taxation away from reliance on income tax and, instead, collect the shortfall from carbon taxes, particularly on the industrial use of energy. We would also tax capital and increase the standard rate corporation tax to 17.5 per cent."
He said the Government's climate change strategy seemed to be out of sight and mind. "In reality, the strategy is business as usual and then pay the fine or buy the excess carbone quota which Ireland released, even though we agreed not to."
Environmental damage at sea also needed firm action, he said.
"Fish stocks are endangered and strong conservation measures are required. Twin riggers and large trawlers should not be permitted in the Irish Sea as they have the range which smaller craft do not have.
"A greater menace still is Sellafield. I have been arrested there before, trying to stop a shipment of plutonium nitrate coming up the Irish Sea.
Until the Irish Government actually brings about the closure of the plant, there are many more, including myself, who will peacefully protest and, if necessary, face the consequences until nuclear reprocessing and MOX are halted and the waste safely stored."
