Greens announce first elected rep in NI
The Green Party today announced its first elected representative in Northern Ireland.
As speculation hardened that the British government will announce an Assembly election in the North this week, the Greens confirmed that Down District Councillor Raymond Blaney would contest the election for their party.
Councillor Blaney is the second figure in South Down to declare that he has joined the party, following former Sinn Féin Councillor Aidan Carlin’s confirmation yesterday that he has also joined.
Mr Carlin will act as Councillor Blaney’s election agent in South Down in the forthcoming Stormont election.
The leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland, Dr John Barry, said they were delighted to welcome Mr Blaney and Mr Carlin into their ranks.
The North Down assembly candidate said: “It’s a great day for the Green Party as we welcome both Raymond Blaney as our first elected representative in Northern Ireland together with Aidan Carlin, a very talented and committed local politician.
“Both are examples of the progressive, forward-looking people who are joining the Green Party here and throughout Europe.
“These are people who do not abandon their cultural and political roots but have come to recognise the Green Party as the natural home for progressive politics across a spectrum of issues from the rights and well-being of people to the state of our vulnerable planet.
“I look forward to working with them in the next Assembly.”
Councillor Blaney was also appointed as the Greens’ health and quality of life spokesman.
He has been a nurse who has spent all his working life caring for the mentally ill.
He was elected to Down District Council on a ticket criticising plans to cut services at Downe Hospital.
Mr Carlin is a former Sinn Féin councillor who retired from politics two years ago.
He said yesterday he was joining the Greens because he believed they could provide a viable alternative to the main political parties.
Mr Carlin has been appointed as the Greens spokesman on welfare rights.
Green MEP Patricia McKenna was today attending press conferences announcing Councillor Blaney and Mr Carlin’s decision to join the party.
She said: “We are proud to count Raymond and Aidan among the ranks of our internationalist movement which has taken power in a number of countries.
“Our movement is dedicated to remaking the world in the image of justice, compassion and ecological sustainability.
“Both men have a superb record in public life and between them constitute a formidable political pairing which will advance the impact of the Greens locally and nationally.
The Green Party in Northern Ireland is running five candidates in the forthcoming Assembling elections.
As well as contesting seats in North Down and South Down, the party is also fielding candidates in North Belfast, South Belfast and Strangford.
The party is hoping to use the Assembly elections to build a base for the next local government elections in 2005.
