Green Party to hold Annual Convention on 18-20 May in Kilkenny

Where the Party will decide its position on the Fiscal Compact Treaty referendum.

The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas will hold its annual convention in the Set Theatre in Kilkenny (http://www.set.ie/about-the-venue) from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 May. The Convention will discuss new plans for local government reform, new business and economic models, the Rio+20 Summit and the position the Party will take in the referendum on the Fiscal Compact Treaty.

Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan said today: "We are starting to rebuild our Party because we believe that a Green vision for the future is still needed in Irish politics. We are re-imagining how that Green vision can be progressed while, at the same time, holding onto the democratic principles which we have always stood for."

"The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas will be the only political party whose position on the referendum will be decided by its members. The decision on the Treaty will be a central part of our convention. We will need a two-thirds majority to ratify any position and we will make our debate as open as possible, where differing views are respected."

The Convention will also hear from Jean Lambert, MEP for London, and from Manuel Sarrazin, member of the German Parliament and the German Green Party spokesperson for European Affairs. On Sunday the Convention switches to Castalia Hall in the Camphill Community in Ballytobin for a debate on the future of the environmental movement, twenty years on from the first Earth Summit in Rio.

Convention 2012 Programme of Events   (DRAFT and subject to change)

Friday 18 May

  7:00 pm     How do we engage women in the Green Party?

  7:45 pm     Green Party Councillors – the work of a Councillor.

  8:30 pm     Local Government. Debate on the policy document on which delegates will vote
on Saturday. Presentation, Discussion and Q+A.

10.00 pm     Session ends.

Saturday 19 May

  9:00 am     Registration.

  9:30 am     Treasurer's Report.

  9:45 am     National Council Report.

  9:55 am     Young Greens Report – Adam Douglas.

10:10 am     Chair of National Executive Committee Report – Catherine Fravalo.

10:25 am     Motions.

11:00 am     Break.

11:15 am     Debate on Fiscal Compact Treaty. Motions and speakers.

12:30 pm     NEC Candidates Address.

  1:00 pm     Distribution of Ballot Papers for vote on Fiscal Compact Treaty Position and
NEC Elections.

  1:00 pm     Ballot Box opens

LUNCH (available in Langtons)

  2:00 pm     Ballot Box closes

  2:00 pm     Cathaoirleach's Address – Roderic O’Gorman.

  2:10 pm     "The Future of Europe". Guest Speakers: Jean Lambert, British MEP, and Manuel Sarrazin, German Greens Spokesperson for European Policy.

Discussion and Q+A.

  3:10 pm     "It’s Time for a New Business Model". Guest speakers to be announced, followed by discussion and Q+A.

  4:10 pm     NEC Election Results.

  4:30 pm     Deputy Leader's Speech – Catherine Martin.

  4:35 pm     Party Leader's Speech – Eamon Ryan.

  5:00 pm     Motions.

  6:00 pm     Session ends.

Heineken Cup Final in the bar (5:00 to 7:00pm).
DINNER in Langtons at 7pm. Must be pre-booked (at http://kilkenny2012.eventbrite.com) as space is limited. (7:00 to 900pm).
Champion's League Final, Chelsea -v- Bayern Munich (7:45 to 9:45pm).
After dinner music and chat in Harry’s Bar in Langtons.

Sunday 20 May

10:30 am     Meet at Kilkenny Castle for bus to Castalia.

11:00 am     Overview of the Castalia Project – Patrick Lydon CEO of Castalia.

11:15 am     "What is our Agenda 21 now?" Discussion and Q+A.

  1:00 pm     Time at leisure to view the project and the Anaerobic Digester.

LUNCH – bring a picnic basket and enjoy the beautiful space and atmosphere of Castalia.

  2:30 pm     Bus returns to Kilkenny.