In the absence of a formal voting pact, the Green Party still managed to throw its weight behind an alternative government involving Fine Gael and the Labour Party at its annual conference. Party leader Trevor Sargent insisted that the radical reforms being demanded by the Greens were unlikely to be implemented if Fianna Fáil remained in office. That declaration may prove to be a vital tipping point.
Buoyed up by positive opinion polls, the Green Party leadership did nothing that might scare the electorate. They carefully avoided the auction politics of recent weeks and concentrated on core issues that touched the majority of voters: a need to tackle climate change, energy prices and fuel security; a need for proper planning and adequate, affordable housing; a need for good public transport, for better pensions and for family-friendly policies in both healthcare and education.
There is no doubting the party's ambition. Under the slogan "Ready for Government" delegates enjoyed their best-attended and most expansive conference of recent years. The grievous political set-backs of 2004, when the party lost its two European Parliament seats and had disappointing local government election results, were put firmly behind it. Instead, the focus was on how many extra Dáil seats the party would win if it doubled the vote it received in the last general election. More importantly, it outlined the policies it would pursue with increased political leverage in a coalition government.
Climate change has moved to political centre stage. Voters now accept that action must be taken to limit global warming, to diversify energy supplies and to reduce unnecessary waste, if the interests of future generations are to be protected. There are echoes here of the late 1980s when Irish public opinion recognised the need for harsh measures to reduce the national debt. Whether the Green Party will be able to harness that growing political wave remains to be seen. The Government parties will publish an energy White Paper in the coming months. But fresh aspirations, however laudable, may not be sufficient to divert attention from past failures.
The growth of the Green Party has exerted intense pressure on Fianna Fáil, particularly in Dublin and in urban areas, where its rise has coincided with a decline in support for that party. Nearly two-thirds of Green Party supporters favour a coalition arrangement involving Fine Gael and the Labour Party. Trevor Sargent spoke of the need for a new sense of direction in society that economic growth itself could not provide. He spoke about cleaning up politics; about ending corporate donations and dodgy planning; about providing people with energy-efficient, affordable housing and reliable public transport. But, most of all, he concentrated on climate change and the need to protect future generations. It is a potent message. And anecdotal evidence would suggest it is gaining ground. With an election in sight, it could be a winning card.