Northern Ireland

Green Party members north and south hold the deciding votes for government formation

Green Party Northern Ireland leader Clare Bailey
Green Party Northern Ireland leader Clare Bailey Green Party Northern Ireland leader Clare Bailey

MEMBERS of the Green Party, north and south, hold the deciding votes on whether a government can be formed in the Republic before the end of this month.

Its parliamentary party voted to accept the Programme for Government PfG) which was published on Monday, with nine votes in favour and three abstentions.

Indicative votes were also taken of the Green Party senators, MEPs, and South Belfast MLA and Northern Ireland Green's leader Clare Bailey.

The group, including indicative votes, recorded 13 in favour and four abstentions.

One of those abstentions came from the Green's Northern Ireland leader, in a move which could be an indication of how the party's 800 northern membership will vote when the PfG is referred to the membership for ratification.

Members who register for an online special convention or who apply for an absentee ballot will now have the opportunity to vote in a ballot expected to take place next week with results due before June 26.

With around 2,500 members on the island, at least three quarters will need to vote in favour of the deal for a government to be formed.

An Irish Times poll shows only half of Green Party members surveyed are currently supportive of the three party coalition.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael supporters are expected to endorse the programme.

Caretaker taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned on Tuesday there will be a “political crisis” if members of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party do not approve the proposed coalition.

He said further meetings with independent TDs were taking place in an attempt to further bolster support for the would-be government.

Mr Varadkar said he ideally wants the administration to have the support of around 90 TDs. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party have 84 TDs between them.

“If the deal doesn’t go through, well then we do not have a new government and that precipitates a political crisis,” Mr Varadkar said.

However, speaking to RTÉ Green Party member Saoirse McHugh, who unsuccessfully contested the general and Seanad elections this year, said she would not be supporting the deal.

She said the seven per cent carbon emission reduction proposed would not be easy to get past members as it was "backloaded".

Sinn Féin, who won the highest percentage of votes in February's general election, have criticised the PfG as "vague".

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said they would now provide "the most effective opposition in the history of this state".