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As Ireland edges close to week two of a three-week election campaign, the parties vying for votes have outlined their plans for the next five years.
A look inside the Green Party’s general election manifesto, ‘Towards 2030, volume II’ reveals plans for drug decriminalisation and safe consumption rooms for drug users, assisted suicide, the removal of the ‘3 day-wait’ requirement for abortion, and the delivery of thousands more beds for asylum seekers while ensuring no community has a veto on centres.
ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY FOR REFUGEES
The document says that the party entered government in 2020 “with a recognition that the asylum processing, accommodation and reception system that was in place since the late 1990s was profoundly unfit for purpose, even with the comparatively lower numbers of applicants at that time”. The party’s manifesto says it committed to “overhauling the system” and that it began to implement changes.
This course of action was interrupted by the war in Ukraine, which the party says “triggered the largest mass displacement event in Europe since the Second World War.”
The manifesto outlines that, going by previous years’ trends, Ireland would have expected approximately 11,500 additional refugee arrivals in the three-year period 2022 – 2024 – but the actual number was 146,000.
The party says in order to respond to the challenge, it is publishing a new “Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy.” This strategy involves the establishment of a dedicated Asylum and Integration Agency which “will have statutory requirements to ensure all asylum requests are processed humanely, fairly and expeditiously to set time limits, working within the framework set out by the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.”
“The Agency will also be responsible for the provision of accommodation and material reception conditions, with standards specified in law, and for ensuring that those requesting international protection receive a high standard of psychosocial and integration supports, with a particular emphasis on supports for the most vulnerable,” the manifesto states on page 64.
The party says it will continue to implement the Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy, delivering 14,000 state-owned beds by building on state-owned sites and purchasing large scale buildings for conversion.
It claims: “This will save the state money in the medium term and the phased and planned nature of the strategy will allow for better planning for the provision of key public services in areas where accommodation is located”.
The policy also stresses that “no community has the right to exercise a veto on who lives where”.
The party further says it will implement a range of steps to support those seeking international protection. This will include providing integration supports “from day one to all those awaiting assessment, delivered within Reception Centres”. The plan also includes providing education supports, including English language assistance, to ensure a transition to independent living for those who obtain a positive decision.
The plan further outlines: “Almost 6,000 individuals who have been granted asylum in Ireland remain living in IPAS accommodation. As Irish residents with a housing need, we will require the Department of Housing and local authorities to establish new supports and pathways for all people with status to move towards independent living beyond the IPAS system.”
With regards to integration, the Greens say they will ensure that the new Asylum and Integration Agency supports the integration “not only of those who have come through the international protection process, but of all migrants to Ireland, including those Ukrainians who may opt to stay and build lives here.”
“We want to ensure that people coming to live and work in Ireland are treated equally, can live full lives with their family and in their community, free of the threat of exploitation,” it states.
To this end, the party says it will extend immediate family reunification rights to all General Employment Permit (GEP) holders in full time employment, saying that the current family reunification process is “discriminatory.”
MAKING IRELAND A ‘LEADER IN CLIMATE ACTION’
The party outlines “relentless” and ambitious climate targets, at a time when concern continues to mount around potentially huge fines for Ireland faking to meet EU climate targets which the coalition government signed up to.
The party says that it will “initiate a decade of change,” adding: “We were told that it couldn’t be done – that the people of Ireland wouldn’t be up for the challenge. But halfway through this decade of change our people have proven those naysayers wrong. Working together, households, businesses, and farmers have delivered key wins on climate across every sector. In 2023, emissions fell by 6.8%, bringing them to levels last seen in the early 1990s.”
The party insists there is “still so much more to do,” and says it will “maintain a relentless focus on delivering further reductions across our electricity, agricultural, land use, transport, built environment and industrial systems in a way that improves people’s every-day quality of life.”
The Greens will target a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030, a 90% reduction by 2040, and a net- zero economy by 2050, saying: “This will require an all of Government approach.”
It outlines a spending plan for the €3.15 billion Climate and Nature fund, which can be deployed from 2026 onwards. It says it will spend:
€1.2 billion on the retrofit of public buildings; €200 million on energy efficiency measures for businesses; €250 million to support the development of district heating €300 million to support a new biomethane industry; €200 million for a programme of research and innovation for clean technologies; and €100 million for new infrastructure required for offshore wind and microgeneration.
The party states its commitment to turning Ireland into “a renewable energy superpower,” and says that it will deliver a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035 and develop 20GW of offshore wind, 10GW of onshore wind, and 15GW of solar by 2040.
ASSSISTED SUICIDE
The party, in its manifesto, reaffirms its commitment to introducing assisted suicide in law.
It states: “We will introduce legislation which allows for assisted dying in Ireland, based on the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying.
“This will only apply where a terminally ill, mentally competent adult makes the decision of their own free will, within strict legal safeguards.”
EU GREEN DEAL
The party says it supports the European Green Deal and “will resist any efforts to water it down”. It wants the EU to create a Green and Social Transition Fund, and supports an expansion of the EU’s long-term budget to “support Ukraine, make the environmental and technological transition and effectively manage migration.”
The party says it will continue to push for “the most humane and fair implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact,” adding: “We support the extension of the Ukrainian temporary protection order and an EU migration system that recognises the inherent dignity of all.”
The manifesto says the Greens will advocate for an EU target of a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040. Implement the Renewable Energy Directive; undertake reforms to support the Energy Efficiency Directive, while seeking amendments to allow us to maximise our renewable energy generation potential; and will support reforms to the Energy Tax Directive to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies.
The party wants to increase climate finance to €500 million.
ABORTION
The party wants to remove the three-day waiting period before abortion medication can be prescribed – a safeguard which was promised during the Repeal campaign and introduced in the 2019 Abortion Act. It also wants to remove “the criminal sanction attached to medical professionals who provide care outside of the first 12 weeks of pregnancy,” despite the legal limit for abortion on request being 12 weeks.
It says it will “continue to work to ensure that geographic location is not a barrier” to abortion, so that the procedure is “widely available across every county in both hospital and general practice settings.”
TRANS HEALTHCARE
The party outlines a number of policies relating to “LGBTQI+ health services,” including implementing a community-based, person- centred model of trans healthcare, “ensuring universal access to evidence.” It says it will implement the new National Disability based care, and writes: “Our policy will be guided by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.”
The policy is significantly toned down from the measures laid out in part one of its original ‘Towards 30: A Decade for Change’ (volume 1) plan, which previously outlined the party’s commitment to a series of promises to strengthen hate crime legislation around transgender and intersex people, a system of gender recognition for those under 16, and the introduction of gender neutral toilets.
The Green Party previously said it supported the amendment of the Gender Recognition Act 2015 to include recognition by self-declaration for non-binary and non-gendered individuals; to make recognition for trans people aged 16 and 17 equal to that already enjoyed by those over 18; and to introduce a system of gender recognition for children under 16.
In order to “further advance gender rights,” it proposed the addition of “protection for transgender and intersex people to existing hate crime legislation and its inclusion in any new legislation.” It had also said it would increase the availability of support and medical services – including hormone replacement therapy, gender confirmation surgery, psychological services, and funding for support groups.
Related to maternal health, it says it will roll out targeted health assistance for migrants, including language supports, with a “special focus on non-Irish women to tackle the higher incidence of maternal death and pregnancy-related issues.”
DRUG DECRIMINALISATION
The Green Manifesto says that the party supports the decriminalisation of all drug users and the legalisation and regulation of cannabis. It says it wants to deliver on the Citizens’ Assembly recommendations on Drug Use, which called for decriminalisation of the possession of all illicit drugs for personal use. In June, it called for a sense of “urgency” to implement its recommendations, amid calls for caution from a series of senior politicians.
The Greens say they will deliver the operational recommendations, through a “health-led” (as opposed to criminal) approach, and a dedicated Cabinet Committee, chaired by the Taoiseach, to “ensure a whole-of-government response.”
The party says it wants to engage with drug users and stakeholders in policy design and implementation, and to prioritise disadvantaged communities and prisoners in drugs policy. The party also says it will “focus on harm reduction by introducing drug-checking facilities at festivals and providing for safe consumption rooms.”
A ‘MOVE AWAY FROM A CAR DOMINATED SYSTEM’
The Green Manifesto says that “moving away from a car-dominated system brings numerous benefits.” The party says it will make progress towards our 2030 climate targets in transport by:
Investing half of the Apple tax case money in major public transport projects in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford; Investing €500 million a year in walking and cycling infrastructure; Making walking and cycling safer by reducing speed limits and improving enforcement of road traffic laws.
The party also wants to reduce people’s need to drive by planning for new housing developments to be situated near centres of employment and education, and near public transport links. It further proposes taxing business class flights and private jets.
TAXES
The party manifesto includes a number of policy changes centred around tax. These include a proposal to exclude wealthy farmers and business owners from agricultural and business relief. The Green Party says it would restrict relief to assets worth three times the value of the average farm.
The party wants to extend agricultural tax reliefs to land leased for solar power; impose a landing charge on private jets; and make it a requirement to apply an air passenger duty on business class seats.
The Greens also say they will increase excise duty on cigarettes and e-cigarette liquid. It further says it wants Ireland’s next Government to lead the way on negotiations for a coordinated minimum effective taxation standard for ultra-high net worth individuals in line with proposals from the EU Tax Observatory Report of 2024.
Noting its “green take on tax policy,” the party says it will “build on the success of the carbon tax in supporting the scaling up of a domestic retrofit industry, as well as tax cuts on solar panels and heat pumps, we will seek to leverage the tax system to support the transition to a climate neutral economy.”
This will include taxes on private jets and business class flights.
DEFENDING UKRAINE AND RECOGNISING PALESTINE
Setting out its policy on international relations, the party says it is “proud of and will continue to build on Ireland’s outsized influence on global and EU affairs.”
The manifesto outlines: “As a priority, we will focus our attention on supporting the defence of Ukraine and, having finally recognised the State of Palestine, we will push for an end to the invasion of Gaza and a lasting two-state solution. We will work with our EU colleagues to bring about a fairer, greener Europe, while supporting countries in need.”
The party says it “fully supports” sanctions against Russia and Israel, and says it will continue to provide non-lethal military aid for Ukraine, with a particular focus on demining and cyber defence. It will also continue to “use our diplomatic power to push for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, an end to the invasion of Gaza by Israel, and an end to the attacks and settlement expansion in the West Bank.”
“We will continue to push for a lasting, peaceful two-state solution,” the party says, adding that it will immediately enact the Occupied Territories Bill and suspend dual use export licences to Israel.
The party says it will also continue to push for the European Commission to “review Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations in the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and act accordingly to amend or suspend the agreement.”
Read the Green Party’s Manifesto in full here.
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