Green election intentions questioned

Sean Sherlock

THE Green Party is attempting to renege on its election commitment according to Labour TD Seán Sherlock.

“The comments from Minister Eamon Ryan suggesting that the general election will not now be held until some time in March represent the latest attempt by the Green Party to renege on the commitment it gave to the Irish people only five weeks ago that the election would be held in the second half of January.

“The statement issued by the Green Party Leader, John Gormley, on November 22nd is still there on the Green’s website for all to see. It is headed ‘Green Party calls for New Year election’ and in it Mr. Gormley said ‘we have now reached a point where the Irish people need political certainty to take them beyond the coming two months. So, we believe it is time to fix a date for a general election in the second half of January 2011’.

“But now it appears that the Green Party want the public to believe that the definition of the New Year extends possibly to as late as the end of March. It seems that, not for the first time, the Green Party had not fully thought through the consequences of what they were saying.

“Now they have apparently decided that getting what they regard as a number of significant Bills through the Dáil is more important than giving the Irish people the early election they want.  And it is clear that they are prepared to allow Fianna Fáil to remain in office for as long as it is necessary to achieve this.

“This is a demoralised and defeated government.  This government cannot give the leadership necessary to put the country back on its feet. We need political certainty. The removal of Fianna Fail from office and the election of a different government, with a new mandate is an essential step in the process of national recovery.

“Speaking on the last day the Dáil sat before the Christmas recess, the Leader of the Labour Party, Eamon Gilmore said, ‘If we come back here on 12 January and we are not in a position to know that we have two weeks to deal with the finance Bill and that the Dáil will be dissolved at the end of January, this party intends to put the issue to the test in the House as to how much longer this Government intends to drag out the holding of a general election, which the people of the country are seeking and which the country needs.’

“This is a commitment to the Irish people the Labour Party will honour,” he said.