FF policies are proving a big success for the Greens, writes Frank McNally
Other parties just kiss babies during election campaigns, but the Greens like to bring them to the the meetings. In keeping with tradition, the party's manifesto launch was a cross between a campaign rally and a creche, and John Gormley confirmed this was not due to industrial action by baby-sitters. "We don't inherit the earth from our parents," he said, explaining Green philosophy. "We borrow it from our children".
The event was less like P.J. Mara's "It's showtime!"; more like the BBC's "It's time for Tellytubbies!". But the risks involved in pursuing FF policies (Family-Friendly, in case you had to ask) were rewarded. Fears that the children might borrow the event from their parents, or even just hijack it, proved unfounded. These were environmentally-sound babies, and apart from a few minor heckles, they remained on-message throughout.
This is the first general election since the party abandoned collectivism and elected a leader, and it was a slick, well-drilled presentation of policy. But the Greens are not yet marketing Trevor Sargent the way other parties do their leaders, with the result that all the party's leading candidates got a word in.
One of these was a rude word, when South Dublin councillor Paul Gogarty provided an even more colourful description of the Bertie Bowl, also beginning with "B". The audience laughed. But with all those children present, there was some relief when another councillor, Eamonn Ryan, summed up Green policy as being all about "cleaning up our act".
Mr Ryan was praising the plastic-bag tax, "a huge success," he said, but also an example of how mainstream parties adopt Green ideas. The party of nature risks becoming the naturist party from having its clothes stolen so often. But aside from John Gormley bridling at Fine Gael's late conversion to "quality of life", there were few signs of territorialism yesterday.
Indeed, there will no risk of overcrowding in the neighbourhood of the Greens' tax plans, which propose increases in a number of areas other than personal income. And Mr Ryan claimed further new ground in the campaign with his announcement that the party would cut spending in certain areas, notably roads.
Even if the bandwagon continues to pick up hitchhikers, however, John Gormley was confident they could fit a few more Green TDs on it. "I'm not given to wild bouts of optimism," he said, "But I think the four seats we've predicted is on the low side".
Not given to wild bouts of anything, the Greens will nevertheless be hoping to create a tremendous racket in early June, when the new Dáil meets.