--- election_year: 2024 party_id: green-ni party_name: Green Party in Northern Ireland party_leader: Clare Bailey political_spectrum: left-green victory: false government_outcome: opposition sections: - economy - taxation - health - education - housing - immigration - defence - foreign-policy - environment - transport - law-and-order - welfare - democracy-and-constitution - agriculture - energy - devolution - science-and-technology - local-government --- # Green Party Northern Ireland Manifesto 2024 ## Greener, Cleaner, Fairer ### Westminster Manifesto 2024 **greenparty NORTHERN IRELAND** --- ## Foreword We are in the fight of our lives for the type of world we want to live in and for the future of the planet. This election provides the opportunity to finally say good riddance to this Tory Government. It looks likely that Labour will form the next Government, but we need a strong group of Green MPs to dare Labour to be braver. Locally, the Executive parties have failed to deliver. Stormont is a byword for crises, chaos, collapse and poor governance. While many of the challenges we face have been made more intractable by 14 years of Tory austerity, but Local Ministers have culpability for failure to invest in and reform public services. They should be embarrassed by their dire environmental record and we know how bad they are at governance. They have also made many damaging policy decisions. Politics is the battle of ideas. This manifesto sets out our vision for a Greener, Cleaner, Fairer society and advocates policy that will help us get there. Our five priorities are saving our environment, protecting public services and NHS, bringing in a wealth tax, reforming Stormont and being a beacon for peace and justice. Your vote is powerful. Every single vote for a Green candidate sends a clear message that you want a Greener, Cleaner, Fairer society. **Senator Mal O’Hara** *[Signature]* --- ## Our Five Key Priorities for a Greener, Cleaner, Fairer Society **Save Our Environment** The Tories and Executive parties have failed to take any action on Climate breakdown. **Lough Neagh is in crisis**, 20m tonnes of sewage enters our waters each year, our air is toxic and we are the 12th worst in the world for biodiversity loss. **The Green Party will fight for public ownership and a recovery plan for Lough Neagh**, end dependency on fossil fuels and invest in cheap renewable energy. **Protect Public Services and our NHS** **The Executive parties have been administering Tory cuts for years.** Tens of thousands of workers have been striking for fair pay and conditions. With a returned Assembly, now is the time to fight for better public services and fair pay. The Green Party stands with workers and communities against unfair pay, poor services and further cuts. **Northern Ireland deserves a fairer deal from Westminster.** **Wealth Tax** The Tories and Executive parties have failed to invest in and reform public services and have allowed fossil-fuel companies to profit from you. **The Green Party would tax the richest 1% and introduce a windfall tax on fossil fuel companies, which would generate £75 billion per year.** This would pay for a fair transition to a greener society and properly fund world class public services, such as our NHS. **Reform Stormont** 26 years since the Good Friday Agreement, **the Executive parties have caused repeated instability and crises.** We were promised peace, prosperity, reconciliation and equality, but this has only been delivered for some. The Executive parties have repeatedly changed the Agreement for their own interests. **The Green Party supports using Citizens’ Assemblies led by people to reform Stormont.** **Peace and Justice** **The Green Party is founded upon the principle of peace and non-violence.** We advocate for the recognition of Palestine and ceasing arms sales to Israel. With the far-right on the rise, we in the Green Party will stand firm for the rights of people seeking Asylum in the UK. **We will end the failed war on drugs**, we support treating drug addiction as a health matter, not a criminal one. --- ## What have the Greens done for you? * **Delivered Northern Ireland’s first Climate Act**, ensuring we meet net-zero emissions by 2050 * **Introduced climate units on local councils**, dedicated to delivering climate action on a local level * **Delivered the Safe Leave Act**, introducing a right of 10 days’ paid leave from work for victims and survivors of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland * **Campaigned against incinerators and airport expansions**, improving air quality and public health * **Delivered the Children’s Services Co-operation Act**, requiring public services to co-operate with each other on the issue of children’s services * **Campaigned for Animal Rights**, including tackling illegal dog breeding and a ban on hunting with mammals * **Delivered the Safe Access Zones Act**, creating safe access to healthcare services around abortion clinics in Northern Ireland --- ## Greener ## Introduction Northern Ireland is rich in natural beauty and resources and known for its majestic landscape. Yet we watch our current governments and administrations preside over the destruction of natural habitats, waterways and coastlines. Overreliance on fossil fuels and unsustainable farming practices have not just left us with environmental destruction, it is hitting the average person in their pockets. The cost of greed crisis has left us with energy, fuel and transport costs which are driving working people to choose between heating and eating and leaving families dependent on food banks – a problem made worse by increasingly insecure and unsustainable food supply chains. Affordable housing has become scarce, and much of the existing housing stock fails to meet standards of energy efficiency – leaving homes damp, cold and expensive to maintain. **The current administration has presided over:** * Failure to stay on target to improve water quality by 2027, and all waterways in states of decline. * 80% of habitats in unfavourable condition or have a bad conservation status. * The 12th worst place in Europe for biodiversity loss. * The highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and Ireland. * Less than 25% of housing stock meeting adequate energy efficiency standards. * Significant air pollution due to motor vehicles, leading to increasing air pollution related deaths. --- ## Summary **WE WILL WORK WITH GREENS ACROSS THE UK TO MAKE OUR REGION GREENER** In our pursuit of a sustainable and compassionate future, we envision a world where our lands and seas are protected, waste is minimized, and all living things are treated with dignity and respect. We will continue to drive forward policies which demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship and animal welfare and will work to identify local initiatives that will create meaningful change. **MISSION 01** **MAKE IT EASIER AND CHEAPER TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION.** We will push for community ownership on all sustainable energy infrastructure – bringing the benefits of renewable energy into communities, rather than lining the pockets of big energy companies. We will push for investment in solar, wind, and other renewable technologies, coupled with innovation incentives to make these sources more efficient and accessible through the use of installation grants, green mortgages, and reducing VAT on retrofitting and green construction. We will reform VAT rules on construction to incentivise reuse and renovation of buildings. We will work in partnership with England, Scotland, Wales and our European neighbours to improve the connectivity of our electricity supply. **MISSION 02** **MAKE GREEN TRANSPORT MORE ACCESSIBLE** We will support the end of sales of new petrol and diesel fuelled vehicles and align the road tax to the weight of the vehicle. We will increase spending on cycle lanes, footpaths and encourage the transition away from the use of motor vehicles where possible. We understand, however, that car users should not bear the brunt of these changes. Ordinary people and workers must be supported in replacing vehicles as they are phased out. We will work to find ways to help small businesses reliant on heavy goods vehicles to transition away from internal combustion engines. We will fight for reallocation of resources from road building to earmarked funding for improving public transportation - making it more affordable, efficient and sustainable. **MISSION 03** **RESTORE AND PROTECT GREEN SPACES** We will join Green colleagues in Westminster in championing for the return of nature to urban environments through the introduction of swift boxes, hedgehog habitats, and more green spaces on brownfield sites. We will push for 30% of land and waterways across the UK and Ireland to be returned to nature, supporting farmers and landowners to increase areas for scrub, hedgerows and rough grazing orchards. We will work with fisheries to ensure that destructive fishing practices are ended, and mores sustainable practices are supported and incentivised. **MISSION 04** **PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES** We will make it easier for communities to block the wrong kind of development. By giving local voices more power, we can ensure that new projects are in line with environmental sustainability, community interests and improved quality of life. We will introduce a Rights Of Nature law giving nature a legal standing to ensure that we protect our natural environment. Fracking poses significant risks to our environment and health. Thus, we advocate for a complete ban on fracking, prioritizing renewable energy sources that are safe and sustainable. **MISSION 05** **SUPPORT A MORE SUSTAINABLE, SECURE FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN** Recognising that the farming and food supply chain in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland directly impacts our region, we will support Greens in Westminster in their fight towards a more sustainable, secure food supply chain. We will look for ways to innovate and collaborate with our neighbours to create a just transition for farmers. Core to this is supporting small farms through a rebalance of power between large-scale agri-businesses and community supported, local and cooperative suppliers. We will support increased regulation of food retailers and manufacturers, and make sure the voice of Northern Ireland farmers is represented in the development of a new Fairer Farming Charter. **MISSION 06** **PROTECT OUR ANIMALS** We will take firm steps to end the abuse and exploitation of companion animals by enforcing animal welfare laws, promoting responsible pet ownership, and supporting animal rescue organizations. We will advocate for the banning of horse and greyhound racing, and support legislation at Westminster to ban all blood sports, including trail hunting and badger culls. We will work with Local Assembly and Council representatives to translate best practice to local legislation and policy. We will also support a legal requirement of the highest protection of marine life in all British territorial and overseas waters. **Locally, Green elected representatives will:** * **Commit to 48% reduction in local greenhouse gas emissions by 2030** This ambitious target will be achieved through a combination of renewable energy projects, energy efficiency measures, and public engagement. * **Support a just transition fund for farmers** We will push for a moratorium on intensive farming and new agricultural development, supported by a just transition fund for farmers that helps support agricultural communities in adopting sustainable practices and diversifying their income sources. * **Make travel more sustainable** We will continue to fight for more pedestrianisation and improvement to public transport – making access to trains and buses more accessible and efficient for all. We will keep pushing for the creation of segregated cycle lanes in Northern Ireland to reduce traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions. * **Push for the restoration and protection of Lough Neagh** Lough Neagh, is a vital natural resource, providing drinking water, biodiversity and recreational benefits across the region. We will call for a renegotiation of the 10-year permissions for extractive industries given the crisis situation we have reached on dredging the Lough and fight for public ownership. We will ask for immediate enforcement to stop phosphorous going into the Lough, as well as PFAS testing and reporting on all drinking water. * **Improve animal welfare protections** We will ban the use of glue traps, which cause unnecessary suffering to animals, and shut down puppy farms through the introduction of Lucy’s law. We also support the introduction of cat breeding regulations to protect the welfare of cats and kittens, and provision of resources to local authorities to investigate abuses and enforce sanctions. --- ## Cleaner ## Introduction **The Green Party is the party of the Environment.** We understand that there will be no reform of public services, social justice or economic growth on a dead planet. We have reached a critical stage. We witness the impact of climate change every day, and yet the current political leadership continues to make empty campaign promises on the environment. They fail to follow through – or worse – make decisions which create further damage. The parties dominating Westminster seats for NI have a history of climate change denial and negative voting records on any environmental legislation, have reneged on promises to fund climate action and pay lip service to environmental protection while calling for the use of pesticides and pushing strategies like Going for Growth which have paved the way for dredging and violations which have directly caused the environmental catastrophe at Lough Neagh. * 70% of rivers fail to reach good ecological status, and more than half fall below good ecological health standards. * All rivers show evidence of toxic chemicals from plastic, and the mercury is evident in animal and plant life. * Nearly 1000 premature deaths a year are attributable to air pollution - with more than 200 in Belfast alone. * Tonnes of sewage in our waterways. * Nitrates in our soils. * The imminent death of Lough Neagh - one of the largest sources of drinking water on the island of Ireland. These circumstances are man-made and preventable. We don't have time to sit back and continue to watch as politics as usual leads to rolling back on promises to fund environmental protection and, missing carbon reduction targets. We can no longer wait for what have become largely symbolic, toothless enforcement and oversight bodies to enforce legislation. As Greens, we are happy that political parties have finally begun to adopt the language of climate activism that we have championed for decades - but **we are the only party with the track record of taking legislative and practical action to make real and lasting change.** --- ## Summary **WITH GREENS ACROSS THE UK AND IRELAND, WE WILL WORK HARD TO TAKE REAL ACTION** We will get to the heart of greenhouse gas emissions by making clean, renewable energy more efficient and accessible and helping people reduce energy consumption to reduce the cost to households and the environment. We will clean up the systems and institutions put in place to protect the environment and make sure they're fit for purpose. We will do this through strengthening international agreements, find effective ways to measure progress, and hold polluters accountable. We will fight to strengthen the local and international relationships to make collective action on the climate and a just transition possible for all, across international borders. **MISSION 01** **SPEED UP THE ROLL OUT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY – AND MAKE THE RIGHT PEOPLE PAY FOR IT** The current targets for carbon reduction are too far away, and we are nowhere near meeting them. We will continue to push for an urgent transition to a zero-carbon society by supporting the nationalisation of energy. The climate crisis demands a rapid acceleration in the rollout of renewable energy. We propose substantial investments, skills and training for green jobs, including retrofitting. This will not only protect the environment, but protect jobs and workers, making them able to easily transition to a new, greener economy. **MISSION 02** **FIGHT FOR STRONGER LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, OUR WATER AND THE AIR WE BREATHE** We will support Greens in England, Scotland and Wales in introducing a Rights of Nature Act giving legal personhood to nature in the UK. This legislation would also set high standards for soil quality which would incentivise regenerative farming methods and phase out harmful pesticides. We would call for rigorous pesticide tests to protect biodiversity and drinking water. We would use this precedent to push for similar legislation locally, working with communities, farmers, scientists and environmentalists to adapt appropriate measures for this region. **MISSION 03** **STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS** The Green Party is part of a global movement, and we understand that climate change and its impacts do not respect national borders. We must work together with our immediate neighbours, and beyond to strengthen international agreements, working together to find ways to monitor, report and enforce the protections that we need to make changes. There are international tools in place to support the collective improvement and protection of the environment. The Green Party will fight to strengthen international agreements and hold the greatest polluters to account, and make sure that sustainable practises are incentivised so that communities, businesses and nature can flourish. **MISSION 04** **MEASURE PROGRESS IN A WAY VALUES EVERYDAY LIVES** The government is never shy in boasting about high scores on economic report cards, but traditional economic indicators like GDP fail to account for environmental health and social well-being. Slower rates of inflation may look good as headlines but do little to assure working families who have to rely on food banks due to exponential rises in food costs from which they still haven't recovered. We need measures of progress and targets which prioritise the experience of individuals, families and communities, and which centre human happiness and the health of people, wildlife and the environment. Voters must be able to hold elected representatives accountable to protecting their everyday lives and wellbeing. **MISSION 05** **CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS** We live in an extremely interconnected world which gets smaller every day. While many mainstream parties resort to isolationism and jingoistic nationalism to shift the blame of strategic dismantling of the welfare and health system on to migrants, benefits recipients and other vulnerable populations. Greens understand that in this global era, we must work with our neighbours and recognise the benefits brought to society by migration and international collaboration. The people of Northern Ireland did not vote for Brexit. We will support Greens across the UK and Europe to campaign for a reformed Europe that works for everyone. **MISSION 06** **RENEW AND IMPROVE OUR COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL AID** We will reaffirm our commitment to international aid – supporting Greens in parliament to restore and increase international aid to 1% by 2033. We will support investment in targeted aid programs which address the root causes of poverty and instability, fostering global equity and prosperity and which give agency and authority to the people of the Global South in how aid is spent. We will support the Greens in England and Wales in campaigning for international trade agreements which are sustainable and just – emphasising the need for respecting workers' and consumers' rights and meeting minimum animal and environmental protection standards. **Locally, Green elected representatives will:** * **Establish an independent Environmental Protection Agency** At the national level, establishing an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is crucial for unbiased enforcement of environmental laws and forcing legislators to be accountable for lack of sustainability in their policy decisions and resource allocation. * **Instigate investigations to local environmental violations** Additionally, an independent investigation into environmental scandals such as the Moubuoy waste scandal and the lack of accountability for contractors at Lough Neagh will ensure accountability and restore public trust. * **Implement the Climate Act and push for financial resources to be reinstated** The Greens drove the first ever Climate Legislation in Northern Ireland. We will continue to push for implementation of the Climate Act, with adequate resourcing. We will seek to implement the recognition of the rights of nature within our legal system to further protect ecosystems from exploitation and degradation. * **Devolve more powers to local authorities** For too long, Northern Ireland has faced a democratic deficit related to the failure to devolve powers to local authorities. More than a decade after local government reform, the Greens will push for local authorities which have the capacity and authority to fully serve their local communities. Devolving more powers to local authorities enables tailored solutions to local environmental and social challenges, fostering community engagement and innovation. --- ## Fairer ## Introduction In one of the richest countries in the world, we continue to see the gap between the richest and poorest grow. People on lower incomes are disproportionately bearing the brunt of the cost of greed crisis and are not feeling the effects of economic growth and slowing rates of inflation. In Northern Ireland, 25 years of a fragile peace has not yielded the same benefits across all communities. We welcome the progress we have made since 1998, but it is time to move to the next stage of peace, and to ensure that this phase benefits everyone equally. We will push for a fairer society through the restoration and protection of our public services, reform of the Barnett Formula and other structures of the Good Friday Agreement, and the introduction of a Wealth Tax which ensures that the costs of improving health and education, building affordable and sustainable housing, and protecting the environment are borne by those who can afford it. **The current government presides over:** * Inadequate funding for local public services. * An Agreement that is not working for the majority. * In and outpatient waiting lists that are leaving people without adequate care or seeking out private supports. * Escalating overdose deaths and more families affected by failure to take a public health approach to drug use. * A housing crisis which stands to escalate due to lack of adequate, affordable housing stock. --- ## Summary **WITH GREENS ACROSS THE UK AND IRELAND, WE WILL WORK FOR A FAIRER SOCIETY** Even in times of global financial crises, the impact of economic, public health and environmental disasters disproportionately impact women, marginalised groups, people of colour, and people with low to middle incomes. Dominant Westminster parties continue to discuss national economic strategy as though it is a household budget spreadsheet - and average working people bear the brunt. We will seek to reform taxation so that those with the most wealth help to pay their fair share to restore health and social services, to give a fair wage to the average workers, and fight for human rights and dignity for all living things. **MISSION 01** **FUND REFORMS BY TAXING THE WEALTHIEST** 64% of the people asked said they would be willing to have increased taxes to improve public services. Elected Greens will push for a wealth tax that targets a very small minority of people and would benefit the majority. A Wealth Tax would be limited to individuals with wealth over £3.4 million (taxing at 1% annually) and those with assets above £1 billion (2% annually). We will also support for a further package of reforms including: * Removing the upper earning limits on National Insurance paid by high earners. * Make pension tax relief equal to the basic rate of income tax – helping to fund adequate social care which centres the dignity of all elderly and disabled people regardless of income. * Reform inheritance tax to fairly tax the passing on of intergenerational wealth. **MISSION 02** **HOLD CORPORATIONS TO ACCOUNT** We will push to make businesses more accountable to pay their share, and ensure that small businesses are not hit disproportionately. We will do this by pushing for a windfall tax on oil and gas production, making those responsible for the cost of greed crisis pay, and revising VAT to reduce it in the areas like hospitality and the arts who have been hit hard after the COVID pandemic. Right now, large businesses would rather take the relatively small financial hit of fines than make genuine reductions in their carbon emissions. We will advocate for a carbon tax which would make it cheaper to reduce emissions than to pay the fines. These combined changes have the potential to bring billions of pounds into the public purse - with Northern Ireland seeing a proportion totalling more than £2 billion per year. These are transformational amounts of money which could save and restore our vital public services. **MISSION 03** **REFORM DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS** Our democracy must reflect the will of the people. We propose electoral reforms to ensure proportional representation, where every vote counts and political power truly mirrors public sentiment. On the doors, we heard voters when they told us that first past the post forces them into voting against their conscience. We believe that all elections would benefit from a more proportional voting system, and support reforms on future Westminster elections. We will also support the extension of voting rights to 16-year-olds, and entitlement to vote based on residence, not citizenship. Reforming political funding is essential to make sure influence isn't the privilege of those with means, and to fight against corruption. We propose strict limits on donations and increased transparency in political financing to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. We also support the strengthening of regulation of political lobbying, and increased transparency for lobby groups - including disclosure of funders. We believe that the people making decisions that affect the lives of everyone should be elected and accountable to the people. We advocate for the abolition of the House of Lords in its current form and reform of the second chamber. **MISSION 04** **MAKE GOVERNMENT MORE REPRESENTATIVE AND MORE LOCAL** To enable diversity across politics, we will implement measures that support the candidacy of underrepresented groups, including women, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Diverse political representation leads to policies that better reflect the needs of all citizens. We will also continue to advocate for devolution of powers to local levels, including reform of the Barnett formula and the funding package to Northern Ireland and the extension of powers and resources to Local Authorities. **MISSION 05** **RESTORE AND PROTECT PUBLIC SERVICES** Healthcare decisions are devolved to the NI Assembly, but we will stand with elected Greens in Westminster to support health and educational reforms which we can adapt to suit local needs, and which are in line with Green values of protecting and restoring public services and reducing the significant inequalities in health and quality of life across the UK and Ireland. We will support an increased emphasis on primary care, including the promotion of more face-to-face care with GPs, targeting areas with greatest needs, and streamlining referral systems to make moving through the system easier for patients. We will also continue to champion health as an issue which should be considered across all areas of policy, and that is reflected in many of the commitments laid out in this document. We will also support commitments to restore pay for junior doctors and the protection of NHS salaries and improved working conditions for valued healthcare workers – tackling problems with staff retention and wellbeing. We recognise the crisis in mental health across the UK, but which is disproportionately experienced in Northern Ireland. We will fight to improve access to quality mental health services which are fit for purpose and meet individual need. This includes investment in training professionals to deliver talk therapies, and reducing the time it takes to receive mental health assessments – particularly for children and young people. Although Westminster doesn't make decisions on housing in Northern Ireland, carbon emissions related to housing affect us. We support elected Greens in Westminster to minimise the climate impacts of new builds, including requirements for new builds to make the most of low-carbon solutions like solar panels and heat pumps. We will push for all planning applications to take into consideration the long term sustainability and environmental impacts. **MISSION 06** **END DISCRIMINATION AND PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS** We are committed to **recognising and redressing barriers for racialised and minoritised groups** through targeted programs that address systemic racism and promote equal opportunities in education, employment, and public life. We pledge that elected Greens in Westminster will support legislation that defends Human Rights and access to enacting those rights, including: * **Tackling misogyny** with robust legal frameworks and public awareness campaigns to combat gender based violence. * **Upholding equality, inclusion and legal protections for LGBTQ+ people**, including improving trans rights through supporting self ID and advocating for gender affirming care. * **Driving forward enhanced digital rights for all**, setting world leading standards on rights and democracy in digital spaces, working with communities to push back against the risks of AI and reap the rewards, and to harness the potential of tech in improving accessibility for people and mitigating the impacts of climate change.. * We understand that **migrants contribute more to society than they take out**, and recognise our role as a post-colonial power and disproportionate producer of carbon emissions directly lead to the circumstances that cause some forced migration. We will continue to fight for the rights of migrants and refugees and resist the hostile environment. We know that creating welcoming environments and support systems that facilitate integration and value migrants' contributions to society. * **We will end the war on drugs** and reform/repeal the Misuse of Drugs Act and support safe consumption rooms across the UK. * **We will repeal the Legacy Act** which has no support from any political party in Northern Ireland. **MISSION 07** **FIGHT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE** The Green Party's core values make clear our commitment to social justice and non-violence. We commit to centring peace and justice into international and domestic policy, and to fight for these issues at a global level. * We will campaign for the UK government to demand an immediate, bilateral ceasefire in Gaza and equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians. We will push for the recognition of the state of Palestine, an end to the expansion of illegal settlements into Palestinian lands, to stop all arms exports and military cooperation with Israel in line with UK domestic and international law, and an investigation and prosecution of war crimes in the region. * We will push for the UK to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and following this to immediately begin the process of dismantling our nuclear weapons, cancelling the Trident programme and removing all foreign nuclear weapons from UK soil. * Ensuring the UK remains a member of the European Convention on Human Rights. * We will enact an ethical foreign policy platform and oppose British military action in the wider Middle East. * We will end the cruel Rwanda plan and introduce safe routes for those fleeing persecution. * An end to immigration detention for all migrants unless they are a danger to public safety and end the minimum income requirements for spouses of those holding work visas. * We will abolish the 'no recourse to public funds' condition that exacerbates social, economic, and racial inequalities. **MISSION 08** **ENHANCE WORK LIFE** We will fight to make work fairer for those who can work, and make life liveable for those who cannot. We will do this by advocating for improved labour protections, addressing inequalities in the labour market, and improving social security. * **Phase in a four-day work week**, recognising the need for a better work-life balance. * Push for the repeal of anti-union legislation and push for equal rights for workers who don't benefit from protections like those on zero hours contracts and those in the gig economy. * **Introduce Universal Basic Income - (UBI)** will provide a financial safety net for all, reducing poverty and economic insecurity. While debates on UBI continue, we believe in its potential to empower individuals and stimulate the economy. * Create **more high-quality jobs** through investment in green industries, technology, and infrastructure - ensuring sustainable employment opportunities for future generations. * Challenge the gap between the highest and lowest paid by campaigning for a maximum 10:1 pay ratio. * Address pay gaps for all people from protected groups, including those with a disability or chronic health condition, those from racialised or religious minorities, women and carers, and LGBTQ+ people. * We will **end the unjust approach to welfare** by abolishing the two-child limit, bedroom tax and benefit cap. * We will **end punitive sanctions** and the 5 week wait for Universal Credit. * We will **reform the process for accessing Personal Independence Payments.** We will extend the franchise to all residents. **Locally, Green elected representatives will:** * **Increasing new, sustainably built, social and affordable housing stock** We will fight the housing crisis through pushing for innovative and sustainable solutions to homelessness, buttressed by an infrastructure which supports the building of sustainable, affordable housing stock which includes social housing. * **Making homes more energy efficient and sustainable** We will advocate for affordable and accessible retrofitting options through financing partnerships with credit unions, green transition grants and subsidies to improve energy efficiency in homes. * **Making transport more accessible and sustainable** We will ending peak fares on all public transport will make commuting more affordable and encourage public transport use, extend dedicated cycle lanes in cities, towns and villages and promote 15-minute towns and villages, creating communities where essential services are within a short walk or bike ride, enhancing convenience and reducing car dependence. * **Increase education pathways and make work pay** We will support alternative pathways to well-paid, sustainable employment beyond higher education, including apprenticeships, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs. We will advocate for 30 hours of funded childcare per week to support working families and early childhood development. * **Addressing health inequalities, restoring primary care, and guarantee essentials** We will tackle health inequalities through targeted health interventions in deprived areas to reduce the disparity in health outcomes. We will advocate for increased, consistent access to primary care for all through increased funding for GP services and better distribution of healthcare resources. We will ensure social strategies are funded, providing the necessary resources for social services and community programs. For those who cannot work, we will make benefits liveable - pushing for an essentials guarantee to Universal Credit and affordable debt reduction approaches to help alleviate poverty and financial insecurity. * **Stand firm against the hostile environment, extend rights and sanctuary for asylum-seekers** We will take a firm stand against the hostile environment policy, ensuring that our communities are inclusive and supportive. Ending the use of hotels and B&Bs for asylum seekers is a priority for the Green party, and we will push for humane alternatives that respect their dignity and rights. Core to this will be pushing for the right to work for asylum seekers. We know that when they are permitted access to the labour market, asylum seekers bring more to the economy than the initial costs associated with their asylum application and supports. Extending labour market rights to asylum seekers is good for people, and good for the economy. --- ## Meet Our Candidates * **Senator Mal O’Hara** - Belfast North * **Cllr Aine Groogan** - Belfast South & Mid Down * **Cllr Barry McKee** - North Down * **Cllr Brian Smyth** - Belfast East * **Lesley Veronica** - South Antrim * **Ash Jones** - Belfast West * **Declan Walsh** - South Down * **Patricia Denvir** - Lagan Valley * **Jen McCahon** - East L/Derry * **Mark Bailey** - East Antrim * **Alexandra Braidner** - Strangford --- ## Get in Touch **CONTACT US :** **Website:** www.greenpartyni.org **Email:** info@greenpartyni.org **Address:** PO Box 369, Bangor, BT20 9FJ **greenparty NORTHERN IRELAND**