Gormley hits out at 'gamesmanship'

Green party leader John Gormley today accused Opposition parties of "gamesmanship" and claimed public reaction to the party in…

Green party leader John Gormley today accused Opposition parties of "gamesmanship" and claimed public reaction to the party in Government had been positive.

Speaking at a special one-day Green Party conference in Dublin, Mr Gormley insisted the party had secured "a very good deal" when it struck a Coalition deal with  Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats in June.

"As party leader I have visited quite a number of constituencies around the country. And let me tell you that - despite the bogus claims of the opposition - the reaction of the people to the Green Party in Government has been very positive," Mr Gormley said.

"People know we have displayed leadership and courage. They know we're in Government to achieve key goals and that we will not be deflected by the gamesmanship of the opposition".

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The Greens came in for stinging criticism from Opposition parties during the recent debate in the Dáil on the Taoiseach's personal finances and his appearance at the Mahon tribunal.

During the debate last month Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said: "Last year, Deputy [Trevor] Sargent, a man of impeccable standards and principles sat on this side of the house. An admirable man, who, week after week, rose to his feet to exonerate the lack of standards manifest in taking this money.

"That man now sits behind the Taoiseach, his mind changed, utterly changed by having been seduced by the attraction of power."

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said Green party policies had "gone yellow". have gone yellow.

"Where now are the fulminations of the Green party deputies about corruption in Fianna Fáil, that we heard with such regularity in the last Dáil Deputies Sargent and Gormley were particularly prone to exciting themselves on this issue," Mr Gilmroe asked the Dail on September 26 th.

But Mr Gormley today defended his party saying they had secured "three important Government posts which will help this party pursue its key aims of tackling climate change by dramatically cutting carbon emissions; improving energy supply security; advancing democratic reforms, especially at local level, to improve real quality of life; and other important goals."

Patrick  Logue

Patrick Logue

Patrick Logue is Digital Editor of The Irish Times