'Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success’

A chara,

As you may be aware, we will be electing the Deputy Leader of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas at our upcoming
National Convention on Saturday, June 11th. This is the most challenging time in the history of our Party. As well as
tapping into the experience that the Party has gained, it is essential that the rank and file membership take centre
stage in the renewal process. I have decided to put myself forward as a candidate for Deputy Leader of our Party. A
pro-active approach full of vigour and innovative ideas must be adopted by the new leadership team to ensure our
Party’s recovery.I am asking you to support my candidacy for the following main reasons:

1. INCLUSIVE AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION: There must be a direct and effective link between the members and
the leadership. If elected, I will do my best to ensure inclusive and active participation of every member, aiming for a
real and meaningful sense of ownership of the Party.

2. LOCAL AND EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 2014: Now is the time to begin in earnest the preparation for the Local
Government and European Elections of 2014. I am fortunate to have had the experience of directing 5 election
campaigns (local and general elections) in Cavan/Monaghan, including the local government election in 2009 when,
against the odds, the Party made a little bit of history by winning 2 seats in a single 9 seat Town Council. Immersing
ourselves in our communities is essential in rebuilding our Party. Catapulting talented but largely unknown people
onto the electorate the Christmas before an election is too late and simply not good enough. Now is the time to make
fundamental political advances.I want to do everything I can to ensure we make the ‘Green gains’ so urgently
needed for our Country’s sustainable future - as Petra Kelly once said, ' If there is a future it will be green’. If elected,
I will commence the work for Elections 2014 immediately, drawing on and mobilising the talent and experience of our
membership whilst always looking to recruit new Greens.

3. RECRUITMENT: A major and innovative recruitment strategy is essential for our recovery. We are one of the most
popular political parties amongst so many school leavers, yet to date we have failed to nurture and capitalise on this
obvious Green potential. We are the Party of equal opportunity but, for example, we could do much more to promote
and encourage greater participation of women in our Party and for our Party. The Green agenda is particularly
relevant to women in the home and in the wider community .I believe that women inspire women.The Green Party
must be at the forefront of gender equality,encouraging the active role of women in politics.

4. FUNDRAISING: We urgently need to launch a major fundraising campaign. The key to successful fundraising lies
in broadening our support. We may have lost supporters in the last few years but now is the time to win them back
and more importantly to harness new friendships.

5. SPREADING THE GREEN MESSAGE TO RURAL IRELAND: Whilst currently living in Dublin, I am very proud to
hail from rural Ireland. Our Party will never fully thrive until we tap into the rural electorate by succeeding in getting
our Green message across that we are the only real and sustainable allies of rural Ireland. We must tackle head on
the gross untruths and misunderstandings about the Green Agenda.

As an elected member of the N.E.C. for the past year and as an active member of the Party, I am aware of the
concerns of the Greens as we face the biggest electoral challenge in our history. The fight back begins now. Every
single vote is going to be hard won on the island of Ireland. Energy, positive thinking, sincerity and commitment are
essential.
As a committed Green Party member and as a mother who is motivated by my 3 young children and in turn by our
Nations children, I pledge, if elected to be the tangible link and voice for our membership, to encourage and facilitate
new talent whilst still drawing on the experience of others and to support the Party Leader as we all face the huge
challenges which lie ahead.

Má thógaimid focail Obama mar spreagadh ,is féidir linn misneach a ghlacadh uathu. Cé go bhfuilimid i mbéal na
stoirme faoi láthair,ní neart go cur le chéile. Mar sin, má chuireann tú an cheist ormsa “an féidir leis an gComhaontas
Glas ath-thógail a dhéanamh-ath-thógail atá bríomhar,fuinniúil agus láidir?” Freagróidh mé ort -”Is féidir linn!!”

Each person seeking to become a candidate in the Deputy Leadership election requires 50 nominators (paid up for
2011 with full voting rights). If you wish to support my candidacy, I would be very grateful if you could email me
at ms.catherinemartin@gmail.com, giving me your name and address.

Is mise le meas,

Catherine Martin
Tel. 086-8710343