THE GREEN PARTY convention began in Dublin last night with party leader and MEP candidate Eamon Ryan set to make the keynote speech later this evening.

The party, which is running candidates in the four European constituencies in Ireland including Northern Ireland, are gathering in the Hilton Hotel in Dublin City with about 200 party members attending.

This morning’s session began with members discussing some of the 14 motions to be debated over the course of the weekend.

The party’s European candidates were then given a platform to outline their positions to the wider party membership.

Green Party members are set to discuss a range of issues including whether the assets of Irish Water should be retained by the State and a proposal that says TDs should only be able to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in the Dáil.

This proposal is being put forward by the party’s Mayo branch who say it would “relieve a serving TD of the urge to work towards re-election, leaving him or her free to concentrate on what is good for the country in the long term”.

“This would facilitate a higher turnover of public representatives, with a view to avoiding institutionalisation of serving deputies, to facilitate fresh ideas and energy to the Dail, ” they argue.

The party will also debate whether coding should be made a core subject in primary and secondary schools as well as an outright ban on fracking.

Party leader Eamon Ryan making is planned to make his keynote speech at 5.40pm.

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