The Green Party is 25 years old this weekend. Trevor Sargenttakes stock of its coming in from the cold
It was this newspaper's publication of a letter written by Christopher Fettes that made me aware of the establishment, in December 1981, of the Ecology Party of Ireland. As a student teacher, I responded by joining the party.
This weekend, the Green Party celebrates 25 years of growth and development. When we began this journey, we stood on the outside of Irish politics, and, indeed, world politics. Our issues, even our vocabulary, were different from anything voiced before. The Greens had, and continue to have, a new message for a new era in Irish history.
The Green Party has shown how responsible policies can have profound effects in our society. We were the first party - back in 1994 - to lobby for the plastic bag levy. We lobbied successfully for the removal of lead from petrol and smog from cities, the health benefits of which will be felt for generations. We also achieved the establishment of facilities that have allowed water quality in Dublin Bay to recover.
This year, Green Party councillors have achieved landmark improvements in the building standards of new homes in Fingal, part of north Co Dublin, and in Wicklow. From now on, the insulation standards of new homes in areas covered by our plans will be 60 per cent higher than the present Government standard.
This initiative will reduce the cost of heating and improve the quality of life for householders. Some day, all homes will be built to these higher standards.
Our key policies - on which we have campaigned for a quarter of a century - are now more critical than ever. For 25 years, we have been actively pushing for better public transport; clean, renewable energy; improved provision for children, older people and vulnerable members of society; safer and higher-quality food; far-sighted planning and building regulations; clean politics; less pollution of water and air; and for a realistic strategy to tackle climate change.
In Ireland, some still consider the Green Party to be on the fringe of political life. The reality is that we are part of a European and global movement that is increasingly setting the political agenda.
The Greens are the fourth-largest political force in the European Parliament. Green parties are part of government coalitions in Italy, Latvia and Catalunya. Our Green colleagues have participated in government in Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden and Finland in recent years.
Seeing the relevance of quality-of-life issues to voters, other political parties have tried to copy our approach. It is clear that, for them to "go green" in any substantial, credible sense, they need to fundamentally change their priorities. Nonetheless, their selective imitation, as the sincerest form of flattery, is an ongoing reminder of the impact of green politics on the Irish political agenda.
Reflecting on A Journey to Change, a history of the Green Party written by Dan Boyle TD, it struck me how much time and energy has been poured into building a successful party and how hard-fought our achievements have been. Those of us who are privileged enough to inherit the fruits of this hard work have a responsibility to continue developing a strong and influential future for the party.
On Monday, I will travel to Belfast to announce our enhanced co-operation with the Northern Ireland Greens, opening another chapter in our history.
Our northern colleagues, with their elected councillors, will become a regional council within An Comhaontas Glas and will use our support - alongside support from Green parties in Scotland, England, Wales and elsewhere in Europe - to be in contention for seats in the Assembly elections in March 2007. With elections in the rest of Ireland later next year, every voter on this island will have the opportunity to vote Green for a sustainable, progressive and inclusive political future.
After 25 years, the Green Party has entered a critical phase in its existence. We have brought our ideas to the very heart of Irish political debate and we now face into a general election that will be fought on green issues: energy, housing, health, transport and education.
We approach 2007 with energy and optimism and fully expect to have more TDs in the Dáil next year. We will fight for a platform from which to implement our modern and progressive policy agenda. We are a party whose time has come.
• Trevor Sargent is leader of the Green Party.