Gogarty said to be close to resigning education post

Uncertainty continued tonight about the future of Dublin Mid-West TD Paul Gogarty, who is understood to be on the brink of resigning his post as Green Party education spokesman.

The speculation began after delegates at the party's national convention in Co Wexford passed a motion which the TD said undermined his position.

Delegates at the conference in White's Hotel in Wexford have voted in favour of a motion by Cllr Caroline Burrell calling for the establishment of a "high level reference group" to devise a political strategy to achieve the party's educational commitments.

Mr Gogarty, who has expressed unhappiness at the Government's educational policies, said prior to the vote the passing of the motion would undermine his position within the party.

Delegates last night voted narrowly voted in favour of different motion, proposed by Mr Gogarty, calling for a special conference next year to discuss the party's continued participation in Government with Fianna Fáil.

But the party's constitution requires two-thirds approval before measures can be adopted.

During a hotly debated session, Mr Gogarty said "Fianna Fail sat around like a flock of startled pigeons trying to figure out where it went wrong. We know where it went wrong and what needs to be done right to make it proper again."

He wanted to ¿let Fianna Fail know that in the interests of political stability and our economic survival we are prepared to stay in Government and do the right thing for our country¿, but equally there had to be progress within a year on Green party commitments.

He said he had a message for the Taoiseach: "If in doubt we'll pull out."

Former MEP Patricia McKenna, who favoured a Government of national unity opposed the special delegate conference and warned that the Greens had to be "very careful about the message we send to the public".

Ms McKenna pointed out that the education cutbacks had already been decided in Cabinet and discussed and supported and it would be a "very bad signal now" for the party to turn around and oppose it. She said the Greens "need to pull our weight".

James Hope, Galway East candidate said that "if we want to have this debate formally in the open, we need to have it now or soon, not in a year's time. If it's worth debating it's worth debating now."

Cllr Vincent Martin, Cavan-Monaghan said "there's a real risk that our achievements will be lost, will be permanently damaged if we stand idly by as inhumane cutbacks are made in the education sector, with devastating consequences".

Gary Fitzgerald, a Cabra-Glasnevin candidate said the public did not "need the Green party to constantly engage in naval gazing and about our participation in Government¿".

They had formed a Government with Fianna Fáil "and there we will stay barring unfortunate scandals for the duration of this term".

He pointed out that "every problem seems to come from a Fianna Fáil minister making spending decisions".

John Goodwillie of Dublin South-Central said the party's national executive council could call for a special convention whenever they wanted.

Cllr Tom Kivlehan (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown) said that if the Greens pulled out of Government there was "no guarantee that we'd be back" after an election. "We need the Greens in power. We need the Greens in Government."

Martin Hogan a Dublin South West candidate said he was "appalled" by what was happening but "I still trust in our leadership putting a strategy in place".

He added: "We're in there now. Let's fight," for the party's goals.