The past week and few months have been intense. From the outside, one would think it is a simple decision for @greenparty_ie members. It was not. A lot of members deliberated, a lot of members weighed the pros and cons of the PfG document. It was not an easy decision for members.

There was a lot of noise, there was a lot of pressure and there were a lot of assumptions made about members and those on both sides of the discussion. The Green Party is a grassroots-led party and is very different to the regular political parties we see today.

Listening to all sides of the debate I could see everyone's rationale and they were and are all valid. There were some ideologically motivated members for sure from both sides. Some against the arrangement today and some against the potential idea of an alternative arrangement.

But, I found the majority of members really focused on the policy proposal presented to them. The idea that journalists used twitter as a temperature check for whether the motion would pass or not is really mind-boggling. Is that what political analysis has come down to? I really

do miss the days where political correspondents based their insight and analysis on actual engagement with political parties, taking the time to really understand each party’s way of doing things and understanding the role of grassroots democracy. That’s real political analysis.

The policy proposal is far from whole and the members were right to question it and assess it. The parliamentary party and the core negotiating team tried their best and were able to present their members the best achievable policy proposal. Yesterday, the members decided to give

their parliamentary party the mandate to go into Government. I know many voted yes with a heavy heart or felt a burden on their shoulders.I know of those who voted no with a heavy heart and felt a burden on their shoulders. That feeling is the feeling of responsibility, integrity

and duty. They are incredible qualities to have throughout the membership of a political party. This is the reality of a grassroots-led party. Those attempting to recruit members who voted no are truly detached from reality. The Green Party is in Government. The Green Party needs

it’s grassroots-led members to engage with their parliamentary team and their policy council. Debate is healthy and it's important to be held accountable, it's important to be kept on your toes because the implementation process is key and will need everyone involved and it

doesn't need just yes people. It needs critical analysis and solutions led engagement. Yesterday, was the deciding pathway to take and now is the time for those on either side of the debate to continue to do what they do best and that's pushing for strong public policy.

I do believe that the @greenparty_ie prides itself in diversity of opinions and open debate and it is fundamental to it's core. That is what the Green Party ought to celebrate and I know will continue to promote the diversity of opinions that challenges the party and the status

quo. It is vitally important that the next few years on the pursuit of strong climate action that we safeguard the most vulnerable through climate justice. I know that the parliamentary team will need their grassroots members to keep them beholden to the mandate the gave them.

So to those having some silly notions on recruiting members - off you go. You have truly underestimated the determination and strength of the party’s grassroots members.