Greens take first step in unification move

Greens on both sides of the Border were preparing today for the first phase in a radical transformation of their parties.

Greens on both sides of the Border were preparing today for the first phase in a radical transformation of their parties.

Members of the Republic's Green Party will be asked at a special convention in Dublin tomorrow by their leader Trevor Sargent to back moves to integrate the Northern Ireland Green Party.

Northern Ireland's Greens are also bidding to become regional members of the Scottish Greens as part of moves to create an all-islands party.

Their co-leader Mr John Barry explained: "We are beginning a process tomorrow of evolving into an all-islands Green Party with the special convention in Dublin.

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"This will see the Northern Ireland party become a regional part of the Republic's Green Party and we will also become a regional part of the Scottish party.

"It is an exciting and innovative development, making the Greens the only political grouping which truly embodies the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.

"Not only are we supportive of the Agreement but we are organising on its logic. I think this is an exciting development for all people interested in progressive politics and I would urge them to get involved."

Northern Ireland's Greens have failed to match the achievements of other, better-resourced sister parties across Europe at the polls.

Mr Raymond Blaney is the party's sole councillor in the North and will defend the seat he originally won as a hospitals campaigner in May's local government elections.