Green Party marks three years of delivering results in Government
The Green Party today (June 27th) marked three years of significant achievements in climate action. Since entering government, major progress has been made on the ambitious but essential Green agenda – in public transport, renewable energy and nature restoration, as well as arts, culture, childcare and equality.
Politics is too often a case of empty promises or lack of vision. The Green Party offers both clear direction and a commitment to delivery at speed and at scale, in the face of great challenges.
The Green Party entered Government because our environment is too important to be left to the whims of political games. One of our core priorities was the Climate Action Bill which set in law our ambition to move from climate laggard to climate leader. It secured a legally binding commitments to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Such ambition must go beyond words, and the Green Party has secured the funding to make these commitments a reality. We have secured a six-fold increase in funding for long term infrastructure to support clean, healthy and sustainable travel. Since entering government, spending has soared from €45 million in 2019 to €289 million in 2022. We have also launched the largest home insulation and retrofit scheme ever offered in the State. For homes, new grants cover close to half the cost of a deep retrofit that improves energy efficiency to a high B2 rating.
Minister Eamon Ryan, Leader of Green Party, spoke about what the Green effect in Government has been;
“Rarely a week goes by in this Government without a Green policy, decision or initiative being launched, progressed and delivered. In almost everything we are doing in this Government, we are taking climate action – like in transport where we introduced the first fare reduction in over 75 years and are delivering a new or enhanced rural bus route every week; in renewable energy where we have delivered the first successful off-shore wind auction and are supporting a rooftop revolution in solar, or in energy efficiency, where we are not just delivering on, but exceeding, our ambitious retrofitting targets. Without the Greens in Government there would not be the singular focus on climate that we must have if we are to deliver, not just on our emissions targets, but on our promise and commitment to future generations.
“In delivering for climate, we are also delivering for nature, biodiversity, and importantly, for people and families. I am proud of the lead that the Green Party has taken in reducing childcare costs for young families and we will continue to use our influence to push for more. We have also used our influence to help families in the most vulnerable states in the world with an increase in Ireland’s support for international climate finance for states most impacted by climate change. Last year, our influence at COP28 also helped broker an international agreement for a specific loss and damage fund for the world’s poorest countries and states.”
The Green Party has secured a trebling of the organic sector budget to €37m, and there has been a substantial increase in the number of organic farm holdings from 1,686 in 2020 to 4,100 in 2023. We have taken major strides to roll out solar energy, such as grant support, removal of VAT and abolishing planning requirements.
While these measures have had a significant impact already, they demonstrate a vision for Ireland’s future.
Minister Catherine Martin, Deputy Leader of the Green Party, spoke about what delivering real change looks like;
"The Green Party in Government has directed policy innovation and social progress so that we can effectively support the wellbeing of society, protect the most vulnerable, in addition to our resolute commitment in facing the challenge of the climate change crisis. As Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, within my own Department arts and culture has greatly benefited from record funding allocations, and we have captured the attention of the world with the Basic Income for the Arts pilot.
"The tourism industry, a sector that is hugely important for regions across Ireland, has recovered strongly from the COVID emergency due to the continued support from my Department and Government. I am proud to have enacted robust new laws to ensure systemic changes for online safety and the protection of children online; in addition to increased support for the Irish language and the development of Sport, with a particular focus on participation for women and underrepresented groups. I am equally committed to delivering further progress in the coming months and years, supporting Green Party goals and advocating for advancing the Green Party agenda across Government.”
A historic childcare budget delivered over €1 billion and will see an average 25% cut to childcare fees. The increased subsidies for parents have gone hand-in-hand with greater funding for childcare providers as well as an improvement in pay and conditions for childcare workers.
The change demanded for meaningful climate action is indeed a mountain to climb. The Green Party’s role in Government is to deliver on this challenge in a way that improves people’s lives, young and old, from all walks of life.
