Greens address annual party conference

The Green Party leader has said his party seeks Government office to bring real and radical change to Ireland.

Addressing the Greens annual conference, Trevor Sargent stressed the party's new tax policy - no change in corporation or income tax rates, but reform to reduce tax avoidance by the wealthy - which he said would fund a one billion euro increase in education spending.

Earlier, party chairman John Gormley said they must embark on a 'myth-busting campaign' before the next election, to deal with Government attacks.

The Dublin South East TD said he agreed with Michael McDowell that a smaller party would play the pivotal role in the next election, and it was up to voters to choose whether it was the Greens or the PDs.

Responding to Mr McDowell's description of the Greens as 'sandal wearers', Mr Gormley said they would always prefer sandals to jackboots.

Meanwhile, delegates at the conference have voted to support efforts to negotiate a cross party policy that would achieve a 100% renewable energy future for Ireland by 2050.

Green Party spokesman Eamonn Ryan said he had been close to agreeing a joint approach with the other parties, but that Labour and Fine Gael had pulled out of the arrangement at the last minute.

And party's Finance Spokesman, Dan Boyle, said that his party in Government would over-haul the current system of tax reliefs, which he described as an immoral subsidy for the acquisition of property.

He said the Greens would introduce a system of incentives which would promote sustainable development, enterprise and environmental responsibility.

He criticised the Government for allowing the wealthy to legally avoid paying tax, pledging that the Greens would tax all income earned here and tax all capital based in the country.