GREEN PARTY representatives held six hours of talks with Fianna Fáil Ministers yesterday as part of the process aimed at negotiating a new programme for government.
A Green Party spokesman said last night that progress was being made in the discussions, which will continue today and into next week.
The spokesman said the negotiators were working through the details and the atmosphere was “cordial”.
The Green Party also said yesterday that probationary members who joined before September 7th this year would be permitted to attend next week’s special convention which will determine whether it will remain in Government.
However, only those who have passed their six-month probationary period will be allowed to vote in the proceedings.
At its special convention, to be held in the RDS in Dublin next Saturday, Green Party members will decide the party’s position on a revised programme for government.
Following a request from five constituency groups, party members there will also vote on a motion concerning the Government’s legislation on Nama.
The Green Party said yesterday there would be a question-and-answer session in the morning of the special convention on the new programme for government before members voted on this issue early in the afternoon.
The convention will, later in the afternoon, vote on a motion rejecting the Nama legislation and requiring the party to reject it in the Oireachtas.
“Attendance at the convention is limited to members,” the party said yesterday. “Probationary members who joined before 7th September 2009 [when this meeting was first announced] may attend. Probationary members who have joined since that date may not attend.
“As is the case with all Green Party conventions, only paid-up members who have passed their six-month probationary period are entitled to vote.”
Talks between Green Party representatives and Fianna Fáil Ministers on the new programme for government have been under way since earlier in the week.
The Fianna Fáil senior members who comprise its team are Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin.
Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan, deputy party leader Mary White and Senator Dan Boyle are conducting the talks on behalf of the Green Party.
Minister for Health Mary Harney has also submitted a document listing her priorities for her area and for other areas of Government policy.
Among the key demands of the Greens are reversals of recent education cuts, tax increases, Dáil reform and a universal health system, as well as an animal welfare Bill that would ban hare coursing.
The new programme will have to be approved by two-thirds of the members at that convention, otherwise the party will be obliged to pull out of the Coalition.
