Strategic Plan 2011 Online

8/3/2019 Strategic Plan 2011 Online

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Growing the Green Party: 2012 2016Strategic Plan


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For 30 years the Green Party has worked towards a fairer,

sustainable future for the island of Ireland and the global community.

Our founding principles remain rm, our people are talented and

committed, and we have experience at all levels of government.

This strategic plan sets how we will develop our organisation over

the next ve years. Our aim is to allow a new generation take up an

active role in political life and through that work improve the quality

of life of all our people.


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The Green Party sees a future where we meet the urgent

environmental challenges we face and create in the process

a more secure economy and just society for all our people.

Where our democratic systems empower people to build safer

and healthier communities. Where we play a positive role in

international co-operation to share the resources of the planet

fairly, leading by example here at home.

Securing our economic

futureThis is a time when we need new thinking and a new economic

model. We believe in using quality of life indicators rather than

growth in consumption levels as our measures of progress. If we

also put a real value on the forms of natural and human capital,

which conventional economics have taken for granted, we can

start to deliver a more secure and sustainable economy.

New markets in environmental goods and services can provide

new employment opportunities. Reducing waste in traditional

industries can increase our competitiveness. Developing

solutions to environmental problems here will allow us to sell

that know-how to the rest of the world. By encouraging trade in

these productive industries we can avoid the speculative boom

and bust cycles that has done us so much harm.

Securing our societyWhen you see the interconnected nature of our world, you

understand that your security is enhanced when every other

persons welfare is also protected. We believe our social welfare

system can be designed in a way which does not restrict people

from taking up paid work and which recognises that some of the

most important work of all is done in non-paid employment.

At its heart the Green movement understands that it is better to

invest more in prevention rather than in a cure. Such long term

thinking inuences how you develop a health system, how you

arrange a judicial system and how you plan for communities. It

prioritises investment in education and the early years parenting

of young children, not just because such an approach makes

nancial sense but because Green thinking values those

riches in life that dont necessarily have to bring an economic

return. Part of that richness comes from the diversity of life in

all its forms. That is what drives us to be a campaigning Party

promoting human rights for all.

Securing our natural

environmentHuman civilization has developed over the last 10,000 years with

the benet of a benign climate and abundant natural resources.

This secure environment is threatened unless we change how

we use those resources. We have the technological capability

to switch to a more sustainable path as long as we develop the

political will to make it happen. Ireland is well placed to make

the transition. We have a moderate climate which is rich in

renewable power. We are responsible for a sea area which is ten

times our land area, which could provide abundant resources

if it was managed carefully. We have enough land to provide

food and water for ourselves, with a large surplus. If we can

get our political systems right there is nothing to stop us using

Information Technology creatively to help manage both our

environment and economy in an intelligent, sustainable way.

Vision


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MissionThe mission of the Green Party is to build a political movement

involving people from all sections of society and from this

inclusive base to sustain the democratic support of the Irish

people for a transition to a more sustainable economy and a

prosperous and sustainable future for everyone on the island of

Ireland.

We will be able to achieve our mission when:

We have a well-funded organisation which can communicate

effectively with the public and a growing membership base

which can take an active role in developing our political

strategies.

We have the capability to analyse and promote effective

solutions to the critical economic, social and environmental

problems we face.

We have a high calibre team of election candidates and

spokespeople who can respond quickly and clearly to issues

that arise in local and national politics.

We communicate to the Irish people in a consistent and

honest manner.

We have secured political representation at all levels of

government, so we can deliver practical measures to move

towards the sustainable future we seek.


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Managementteamto oversee the implementation of this

strategic plan.

Spokespersonsteamto outline Green policies and provide

a critique of Government performance.

Financeteamto raise funds to run the parties ofce and

campaigns.

OrganisationalObjectives

Voluntary Structure

While the party has members and groups throughout the island,

numbers in certain locations are low. We must attract new

members and renew group and campaigning activities. Being

in existence for thirty years the Party has real experience in

operating on limited resources and has people with talent and

dedication who are committed to a political movement which is

growing in strength across the world.

The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas lost all of its state funding

following the 2011 Dail General election and the party had to cut

back to a single staff member in the Dublin Head Ofce. Existing

funding will only pay for these core services through to the

end of 2012. The Party retained its seat at the Northern Ireland

Assembly where an ofce and Parliamentary Team is retained in

Stormont buildings.

Membershipteamto attract new members and energise

our local groups.

Digitalteamto allow us make best use of online systems in

all our operations.

CommunicationsTeamto advise on and implement our

political communications.

Ofceteam to run and administer our head ofce.

We will establish seven voluntary teams to deliver on

specic objectives which will allow us achieve our mission:



Actions

We will share administrative and electioneering resources

between North and South.

We will organise a programme of visits by Irish Greens to

events and training sessions organised by the European

Green Party and the European Green Foundation.

Develop an annual festival in Carnsore, County Wexford,

inviting speakers and visitors from the Green Parties in

Ireland, France, England, Scotland and Wales.

In 2012 we will organise a series of events in third level

colleges to relaunch the young greens and to bring a new

generation of young people into Green Politics.

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CONNECTIONS: Continue to develop the Green Party

as an all island and European political movement

Objectives

The Party will develop as an all Island political movement

which shares resources and experience in dealing with the

two political systems in the North and South of Ireland.

We will develop stronger links with Green Parties in England,

Wales, Scotland and with the European Green Party and

wider International Green Movement.

The development of the party will be maintained through our

National Executive Committee (NEC) National Council and the

other structures set out in our constitution.

We will attract a new generation of young people to become

active in Green Politics.

We need to bring anew generation of

people into greenpolitics


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Objectives

We will become the most innovative and effective political

party in the use of new Digital technologies to manage our

administrative, communications and electoral systems.

Sufcient funds will be raised from our members and supporters

to allow us to maintain our ofces in Dublin and Belfast and to

develop the Party across the Island.

Actions

A newly constituted Fundraising & Finance Team will oversee

the raising of one hundred thousand in each of the three

years 2012 -2014.

In the rst year of this plan one hundred thousand euro will be

raised through the following:

Ten thousand euro from our 30th Anniversary concert

Twenty thousand euro from a national draw

commencing in December 2011.

Twenty thousand euro from a continuation of existing

membership subscriptions.

ADMINISTRATION: Establish an efcient,

well nanced, administrative system

Fifty thousand euro from people willing to become

friends of the Green Party giving a donation of 100

euro and receiving in return a regular brieng on the

parties work and development.

In December 2011 we will launch a new Cloud Computing

Membership Management system which will reduce the

administration workload in managing our membership

subscriptions and communications.

A Digital support Team made up of voluntary staff willmaintain and update our digital systems using open source

software to run our administration and communication

systems.

The lease on the Party head ofce runs to Spring 2014. The

Party will retain the ofces to that time unless the landlord

seeks a break in the lease when we would then seek

alternative city centre ofces.

A team of ofce volunteers will work with the Ofce

administrator to insure that the ofces are open to the public

and members on a fulltime basis.



Our mission is tobuild a politicalmovementinvolving peoplefrom all sectionsof society

Objectives

The membership of the party is doubled to 2,000 by 2016.

Members are integral to all levels of activity and decision

making in the Party.

The Young Greens are one of the most vibrant and effective

political organisations in third level colleges and their work

and development is integrated into the overall party strategy.

Local Groups work within local communities on campaigning

issues as well as electoral campaigns.

The party is involved in a range of social, environmental and

economic campaigning issues which complement and inform

our own policy formulation and political work.

MEMBERSHIP: Ensure a proactive

and growing membership

Actions

We will create a Membership and Group Development Team

in January 2012.

The team will nalise and implement a Group, member &

Leadership Development Plan.

The Plan will provide a template for groups to become more

active in Community and NGO campaigns.

Develop a means of making Constituency meetings more

interesting and to promote alternative meeting arrangements

and greater collaboration between different groups.


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Objectives

An effective management control and measurement system is

in place reporting to the NEC which ensures that the voluntary

working structures in the party can deliver key elements of this

plan.

Policy Spokespersons are able to react to changing political

developments and at the same time are accountable to

the organisational structures in the party through effective

reporting mechanisms.

Leadership is exercised in the party in a style that supports

consensual decision making.

There is a sharing of leadership roles and responsibilities.

Gender balance is pursued in everything we do.

MANAGEMENT: Delegate, review and report on

the implementation of key tasks

Actions

We will appoint a appoint a Strategic Management and

Performance Review team which will report to the NEC on the

delivery of key aspects of this strategic plan.

We will divide the political organisational and policy

development responsibilities between the leader, deputy

leader and Chair of the Party and Chair of National council

and NEC Coordinators.

Convene regular meetings between the Leadership,

Spokespersons and the Communications Team to enable a

timely response to political developments at a local, national

and international level.

Introduce a reporting mechanism where spokespersons can

report to the National Council on the positioning of the party inkey policy areas.



PoliticalObjectives

The Green Party, Comhaontas Glas entered into Government

in 2007 just as the unsustainable nature of existing economic

policies lead to the most severe banking and budget crisis in the

history of the state. The party remained in Government to do

what it believed was necessary to avert the worst consequences

of the crisis. The approach taken and the measures introduced

by the Government were deeply unpopular and the party

suffered a loss of all but three of its council seats in 2009 and all

its Dail seats in 2011.

The Greens are one of the only parties in the Northern Ireland

Assembly that can provide opposition to the administration.

Our opportunity is to provide an alternative political vision to the

left versus right or Nationalist versus Unionist choices presented

by other parties.

We now need to bring a new generation of people into

Green Politics to present a democratic alternative promoting

sustainability at every possible occasion.

The Party will develop as anall Island political movementwhich shares resources andexperience in dealing with thetwo political systems in theNorth and South of Ireland.


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Objectives

A team of spokespersons is in place to provide a constructive

critique of each Government Department, North and Southand to help draft an alternative set of policy proposals in each

area.

Rational scientic analysis is at the heart of our policy

formulation.

A new Green Foundation works as an independent research

centre developing innovative solutions to the key economic,

social and environmental issues we face.

The Party has strong links with relevant institutions,

communities and non-governmental organisations who share

our vision and are involved in similar research to advance

policy solutions.

POLICY: Ensure that well founded, innovative

green thinking is at the heart of our politics

Actions

Appoint fteen people to a new team of policy spokespersons

in December 2011 to shadow each Ministerial portfolio in theDail and to provide a constructive critique of Governmental

policy.

Establish a new Green Foundation in December 2011 with the

executive capability to carry out practical research projects in

collaboration with the European Green Foundation and other

NGOs.

Finalise the Fundamental Scientic Principles underpinning

party policy, incorporating a review process to ensure the

policy formulation process to incorporate these principles.

Re-constitute our policy groups and the National Council to

set a new approach to policy formulation and approval which

complements the new organisational structures in the party.



Specic Objectives

The Party has top quality candidates contesting the Local and

EU Parliament elections in 2014.

Potential candidates are identied and prepared

systematically, allowing time for those selected to develop

their prole and skills.

Candidates assume a leadership role within their local groups

which encourages greater involvement in community andcampaigning work as well as electoral politics.

Clear and effective election strategies guide engagement in

elections, based on the expertise of members, local groups,

and previous candidates.

Actions

A new electoral task force will be established in 2012 to start

planning for elections in 2014-2016 and to establish and

amend targets for each election.

In Autumn 2012 groups will be encouraged to start a process

of selecting local election candidates.

Objectives

Party spokespersons and election candidates are skilled in

presenting a green message in a coherent fashion which is

relevant to the ordinary lives of our people and communities.

Actions

We will establish a new Communications team to develop

a 2012-2016 communications strategy and oversee its

implementation.

COMMUNICATIONS: Explaining our analysis

and solutions to the electorate

The team will establish a training and mentoring programme

for party spokespersons and candidates.

We will launch a new website in December 2011

We will assist each group, candidate and spokesperson

adopt a creative approach to using facebook, twitter, youtube

and other social networking and blogging sites as our main

communications format.

CANDIDATES: Ensure that Green Party candidates

are of the highest quality


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The Green Partysees a future wherewe meet the urgentenvironmental

challenges we faceand create a moresecure economy andjust society for allour people


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www.greenparty.ie

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