The Young Greens have suspended all political campaigning and lobbying until January, following a flurry of high-profile resignations triggered by the Green Party’s decision to back an act sealing thousands of records about the mother and baby homes.
The Young Greens Executive Committee which is elected on an annual basis, announced the decision in an email to members tonight seen by The University Times.
The email, signed by members of the executive committee, told members of the Green Party youth wing that: “The Green Party overall and the Young Greens have had an extraordinary and overwhelming amount of growth and change over the past 18 months. Young Green members have canvassed and worked tirelessly with the main party, for the elected representatives and for the green movement in Ireland and elsewhere.”
“From a state of growth and as a campaigning body, the purpose of the Young Greens has changed significantly more recently.”
Zoning in on issues that have affected the party over the last number of months, members were told that “the past 5 months of government have had a major impact on our membership numbers and negatively affected the drive and passion of volunteers”.
“COVID-19 has not allowed any in-person events to take place, and the Young Greens now find ourselves with diminished numbers, and a need to find a purpose within the Green Party and the green movement”
“For this reason, the Executive Committee has decided to temporarily suspend our national activities, to allow members to reflect and recuperate over the coming weeks. The National Coordinator and the General Secretary of the Green Party have been made aware of this decision.”
“During this period member branches may continue to operate as normal, and the Young Greens will continue to sit on the Executive Committee of the Green Party. General administration, including welcoming of new members will also still take place”, the email concluded.
The positions of chair of the Young Greens and chair of the Queer Greens are currently vacant following the resignation of former chairs, Trinity student Tara Gilsenan and Tiernan Mason last month, at the conclusion of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes legislation.
In a strongly worded letter posted on Twitter, the pair expressed their disappointment in the parliamentary party’s voting record since entering government and warned its “hierarchy” that “history will not be kind to the Green Party as it stands, especially if you continue to drive away the people who rebuilt the party after you burned it down the last time”.
Last month, Julie Smirnova also stepped down as head of the Trinity branch of the Young Greens, citing the parliamentary party’s decision-making since entering government.
In a statement to The University Times, Smirnova said: “As Chair of the TYGs I tried to platform our progressive policies, and the representatives who could implement those in government. But seeing vote after vote come in where we were forced to go against party policy, particularly on housing, was even more demoralising than I thought it would be.”
“The lack of critical voices in the Parliamentary Party, or even just explanations, made me feel like the grassroots were defending a party whose leaders couldn’t be bothered to do the same”, she added. “I couldn’t justify representing the party anymore, as an affiliate Chair or as a member.”
