Without Power or Glory: The Green Party in Government in Ireland

by Dan Boyle

In 2007, the long held dreams of Ireland's Green Party to enter government became a reality as, despite losing seats, the Green Party became a key part of Bertie Ahern's Dail majority. However, the dream soon turned into a nightmare as economic collapse and political chaos descended on Ireland, resulting in bailout, electoral wipeout, and public disgrace for the Green Party and its members. Without Power or Glory is the first insider account from a senior Green Party leader describing events from before the 2007 election through the trauma of the bailout and defeat in the 2011 General Election. The book is written by Dan Boyle, a long-time member of the Green Party who was nominated by Bertie Ahern to Seanad Eireann (the upper house of the Irish parliament) in August 2007 and served there until 2011. Boyle served as Party Chair of the Green Party during their time in government, and he participated in the negotiations with the Fianna Fail party prior to the two parties reaching an agre

280 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this book would make for interesting reading as the Green Party is once again in talks to form a government (2020). Without Power or Glory allows a glimpse into the political naivety of the Green party in power with Fianna Fáil and the Green party's political fall from grace.

Author Dan Boyle is a Green Party politician who served as Deputy Leader of Seanad Éireann from 2007 to 2011, a Senator from 2007 to 2011, after being Nominated by the Taoiseach (Prime minister). Boyle served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central from 2002 to 2007 and elected to Cork City Council in May 2019.

Mr Boyle, who was then the party's chairman, reveals answers to the question's; why did the Green party not leave government sooner? Why did the Green stay in power when it appeared that policies implemented were ideologically opposed to the Green party? Boyle offers the insight of a party wanting to do the right thing.

Subsequently, the 2011 general election saw the Green party decimated and losing all six of the seats that they held, and for the first time since 1989, the Green Party had no representatives in the Oireachtas.

Prior to the party's collapse, Mr Boyle gives details on how the excellent relationship the Green party had before Ireland and the world financial institutions collapsed. Mr Boyle also describes the push back the Green party faced when implementing policy, suggesting that they would be slowed down.

Fast forward to 2020 with the Coronavirus pandemic history for the Green Party is repeating itself, another chance in power, another economic disaster looms in the horizon. Have the Green party learned from their first time in power or is the history destined to repeat itself.

[David Geary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insider view of the Greens experience in government.