Green Party Northern Ireland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Green Party Northern Ireland Comhaontas Glas Thuaisceart Éireann
Leader	Malachai O'Hara
Deputy Leader	Lesley Veronica
Preceded by	Green Party (UK)
Headquarters	Bangor
Youth wing	Young Greens
LGBT wing	Queer Greens
Membership (2020)	c. 700–800
Ideology	Green politics Nonsectarianism
National affiliation	Green Party (Ireland)
European affiliation	European Green Party
International affiliation	Global Greens
European Parliament group	Greens–European Free Alliance
Colours	Green and      blue
House of Commons (NI Seats)	0 / 18
NI Assembly	0 / 90
NI Local Councils	5 / 462
Politics of Northern Ireland Political parties

The Green Party Northern Ireland (Irish: Comhaontas Glas Thuaisceart Éireann) is a political party in Northern Ireland. It is often called Green Party NI. This party is similar to other green political parties around the world. Its beginnings are linked to movements in the 1970s and early 1980s. These movements focused on stopping nuclear weapons, supporting workers' rights, and promoting peace.

Since 2006, the Green Party NI has been a part of the Green Party of Ireland. It also works with other Green parties. These include the Scottish Greens and the Green Party of England and Wales. The party has a youth group in Northern Ireland called the Young Greens. It also has a group called Queer Greens that focuses on policies for the LGBT community.

What the Green Party Northern Ireland Believes In

The Green Party has four main beliefs. These are social justice, protecting the environment, grassroots democracy (meaning decisions are made by ordinary people), and non-violence. The party is generally seen as being more left-leaning than most other parties in Northern Ireland.

Key Campaigns and Goals

The Green Party has been involved in many important campaigns. These started when they joined the Northern Ireland Assembly. They have worked to keep rivers clean and to make Northern Ireland a nuclear-free zone. They have also opposed fracking, which is a way to get gas from the ground. The party has also fought against plans to build incinerators near Belfast and Lough Neagh. They also opposed extending the airport runway at George Best Belfast City Airport.

The Green Party wants more than just environmental protection. They also want politics to work for the good of everyone. A former leader, Steven Agnew, worked to improve children's rights in Northern Ireland. He tried to pass a law that would make government departments work together for children's services. Agnew also supported integrated education, where children from different backgrounds learn together. He wanted a society where everyone has equal rights and respects each other. He even brought the first proposal for same-sex marriage to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011.

The party also wants more money for public transport. They support creating an independent agency to protect the environment in Northern Ireland. They also want Northern Ireland to switch to alternative energy sources. They helped set up a group to support this energy sector. The Green Party in Northern Ireland also campaigns for clear rules in political funding. They want local government to be responsive and for communities to plan effectively. They also support strong and sustainable local economies, environmental protection, and animal welfare.

Views on Northern Ireland's Status

Regarding Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom, Steven Agnew believes things should stay as they are. He said this should continue "until the people of Northern Ireland decide otherwise." He also stated that the Green Party does not let this issue divide its members or society. The party has also asked for more openness in politics. They argue that political donations in Northern Ireland should be made public. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where political donations are kept secret.

How the Green Party Northern Ireland Started

The first candidates to use the "Ecology" name in Northern Ireland ran in the local elections in May 1981. Peter Emerson, Avril McCandless, and Malcolm Samuels were these candidates. They received a number of votes in different areas. Peter Emerson had run in the same area before in 1977.

In May 1983, the Northern Ireland Ecology Party officially started. This happened at a press conference in the Europa Hotel, Belfast. Members from both the British and Irish Ecology parties were there. At this event, the three parties agreed on a single policy for Northern Ireland. This was the first time that political parties from the UK and Ireland had a shared policy on Northern Ireland.

In 1985, ecology parties in both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom changed their names to "Green Party."

The party became a part of the Green Party of Ireland in 2006. This arrangement shows that the Northern Ireland party works across different communities. The Green Party believes it is the only party that truly follows the Good Friday Agreement. This is because of its connections between the North and South, and East and West.

In 2007, a Green society was formed at Queen's University Belfast. In 2010, the LGBT Greens NI group was created. This group focused on LGBT community issues within Northern Ireland. This LGBT group stopped in early 2012. Their main goal, which was to include same-sex marriage in the party's policies, was achieved in 2011.

The party supported voting "no" in the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum.

In February 2015, the Queer Greens party group was set up. This group became the LGBT issues and activist part of the party. It is in charge of party policy on LGBT rights, welfare, campaigning, and raising awareness.

On January 14, 2016, the party announced that Ellen Murray would run for election. She was a candidate in the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly elections for West Belfast. This made her the first openly transgender person to run for election in Ireland.

In June 2023, the party had its first ever mayoral role. Áine Groogan became the deputy lord mayor of Belfast.

Party Leaders

• Steven Agnew (January 10, 2011 – November 21, 2018)
• Clare Bailey (November 21, 2018 – August 15, 2022)
• Malachai O'Hara (August 15, 2022 – present)

Election Results Summary

The Green Party first had success in Northern Ireland in the local council elections of 2005. Raymond Blaney was elected to Down District Council. Brian Wilson won a seat on North Down Borough Council. The party's third local councillor was Ciaran Mussen, elected to Newry and Mourne District Council.

In the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, the Green Party won its first seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Brian Wilson won a seat in the North Down area. The party received 11,985 first preference votes, which was 1.7% of the total. This was a big increase from the 2003 Assembly election.

In 2009, the Green Party had Steven Agnew run in the European election. He received 15,674 votes, which tripled the Green Party's share of the vote. The Greens campaigned on a Green New Deal, asking for job creation in the green energy sector.

The Greens had four candidates in the 2010 UK general election. None of them won a seat. However, the number of votes for Green candidates more than tripled.

Brian Wilson stepped down before the 2011 Assembly election. In that election, the party won a seat on North Down council with their candidate Steven Agnew. Agnew then left his position on North Down Borough Council. The party was against politicians holding two jobs at once. He was replaced by John Barry.

In May 2016, the Greens won their second seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Clare Bailey won a seat in South Belfast.

In 2019, the Greens won more seats in local elections across the country. They managed to double their seats and won 4 seats in Belfast City Council.

However, in the 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election, Clare Bailey and Rachel Woods both lost their seats. This meant the party had no representatives in Stormont for the first time since 2007.

Northern Ireland Assembly Election Results

UK Parliament Election Results

Northern Ireland Local Election Results

European Parliament Election Results

Images for kids

• 

  The official logo of the Green Party Northern Ireland.

See also

• Demography and politics of Northern Ireland
• Green party
• Green politics
• List of environmental organisations