Brian Meaney, Green Party County Councillor, deputy Mayor of Clare and candidate in the next General Election today dramatically called for republicians to switch their voting intentions.
"In Irish political terms the word republician was hijacked many years ago and twisted to mean anti-English, anti-Protestant and anti-Unionist. If you believe yourself to be a republician and by that mean that you would like to see a 32 county republic with a large consenting minority of Northern Protestants then voting for Fianna Fail or Sinn Fein is absolutely the wrong thing to do."
" The long term hope of a peaceful settlement in the North of Ireland cannot be brokered by either of these parties as they have a long established tradition of animosity towards the Unionist community. It is a feeling that is reciprocated with interest. The next stage of any advancement in our relationship with Northern Protestants can only be managed by people who have no historical baggage and who are willing to view things from a fresh perspective. The Green Party are that group. We have no interest in avenging the Battle of the Boyne, Bloody Sunday or any of the other battles that have formed the psyche of that misfortunate province."
" The reality of two traditions in one small area is something that needs to be treated in a sensitive and open way. The reasons for the hatred that still exists need to be examined in a dispassionate way. We need to employ a truth commission type approach, modified to accommodate the fact that the differences between the Ulster factions are quite small when viewed objectively. Those passionate about the issue will disagree with this point but they need to be marginalised if there is to be any further progress."
" The current stalemate is understandable and tactically sensible from a Unionist point of view. The only progress that is being offered to them at present is a forced slide into a Catholic state. Of course they will not play ball - would you? With a Green Party approach all possibilities are reopened and the whiff of cordite is replaced with that of camomile."
" We have been held to ransom here by the stale smell of anti-Britishness for far too long. It is true that for 800 years the British subjugated Ireland but it is also true that if we were the strong half we would have done the same to them. Ancient history is a parade of the strong enslaving the weak. It's unfortunate that we were the weak but it's fortunate that I am writing this now and not trying to speak out 200 years earlier. We have to live in our own sliver of eternity and try to pass on a better experience to our children. The best possibility of this happening occurs when a group such as the Green Party take the lead in trying to normalise our existances."
" People in general want a peaceful atmosphere where they feel comfortable and safe. We have achieved that in most parts of this country and we can extend that feeling across the border if we argee to put the past into the history books and work towards taking the hatred out of the minds of people who have no real reason to hate one another.