Post election
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007
Long time no post. Shame on me. It was a good result in the election they say - 2,860 first preference votes. In the final week of the election, all the talk was Bertie -vs- Enda. When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled, so the small parties all got squished a bit.
What happened afterwards was the interesting bit. The Greens are now in government, and I’ve had emails and phone calls both for and against that decision, though the “for” vote was in the majority. It isn’t a black and white decision. B&W decisions can be made in 10 seconds - the debate on this one in the Mansion house went on for 8 hours. I voted in favour for a number of reasons;
1) Fianna Fail were going to be in power anyhow, with or without the Greens. The only difference is that instead of being beholden to a few local interest independents, they are now also beholden to a Green agenda. Had it been a choice of backing either FF or FG, then it would be a different matter, but the figures dictated that FF were going to be heading up the next government.
2) People mostly voted Green because they wanted Green policies implemented in relation to climate change and energy. Considering that the Greens had only 6 seats to FF’s 78, they got a good deal - two key ministries and agreement to reduce CO2 emissions by 3% per annum.
Some say that people voted Green for change. That isn’t necessarily the case. The Greens never promised not to go into government with FF, and as a result many of those who wanted change voted FG first, Labour second and then Green. But remember, that given the numbers at the end of the election, FF were home and almost dry. The most change you could have got was the coalition that actually emerged.
3) I just don’t think there is five years to spare not having Green policies on energy and climate implemented in Ireland. Another five years building shoddy housing, gas fired turbines etc.
OK, we didn’t get everything we wanted on Tara, Shannon and numerous other issues. But staying out wouldn’t have saved Tara or kept US soldiers out of Shannon. The best we can hope for is that in government we will have an effect on future decisions. Lets give it time.