The Green Party/Comhaontas Glas was founded 27 years ago based on the following seven principles:

• The impact of society on the environment should not be ecologically disruptive
• Conservation of resources is vital to a sustainable society
• All political, social and economic decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level
• Society should be guided by self-reliance and co-operation at all levels
• As caretakers of the earth, we have the responsibility to pass it on in a fit and healthy state
• The need for world peace overrides national and commercial interests
• The poverty of two-thirds of the world's family demands a redistribution of the world's resources

These principles reflect the Green Party's vision for politics - one which understands the connection between political action and the social, environmental and economic consequences of that action. In keeping with these principles, the Green Party has a long-standing commitment to environmental and social justice at all levels from local to international. We believe that the best way to achieve a sustainable, equitable society is to think globally and act locally in every aspect of our lives; this begins with the community in which we live.

This manifesto outlines the policies pursued by the Green Party in order to achieve these aims along with the actions that we consider necessary at a local level to lead to a better quality of life for all. We believe this will be achieved by creating better communities that are socially inclusive, economically vibrant and therefore strong enough to adapt effectively to economic and social change.

This is the Green Party's first time approaching an election in government. The current economic downturn means that we have had to accept not only lower investment than we had hoped for in certain areas but indeed budgetary cuts which, during a healthier financial period, we could not have imagined, much less accepted.

Nonetheless, despite financial constraints, our policies remain guided by our fundamental principles and a belief that there will come a period of economic renewal driven by green economics. The Green Party does not make promises; we make policy, which we then aim to follow through on in government.

This manifesto outlines our policies and how they translate at a local level through Green councillors who work extremely hard to put these policies into action so as to create the kind of society in which we can all be proud to participate.