THE GREEN Party could not clarify the nature of its demands on Taoiseach Brian Cowen for the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle, after a lengthy meeting of its parliamentary last night.
Party leader John Gormley and his colleagues refused to comment on whether the internal disagreement over ministerial rotation had been resolved.
When asked for comment as they left the meeting shortly after 8pm, TDs and Senators repeated the agreed official line that changes in the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle remained a “matter for the Taoiseach” in consultation with Mr Gormley.
Last night, Mr Gormley would made no comment on his own position, and dismissed as “speculation” reports that he will relinquish his Cabinet position in a mid-term reshuffle.
A number of sources within the party confirmed this week that an agreement was reached in 2007 that Mr Gormley would step down as Minister for the Environment after two years, with Dún Laoghaire TD Ciarán Cuffe being promoted to Cabinet. Mr Cuffe also refused to comment on the matter, except to say that it was the Taoiseach who would decide on the Cabinet’s composition.
Uncertainty remained last night as to the status of the agreement on rotation and as to whether any member would press the issue or demand that it be honoured.
The controversy over the ministerial rotation dominated the meeting, which also discussed what strategy the party would adopt on the forthcoming reshuffle.
None of its TDS or Senators returned calls last night on the outcome of its discussions on the agreement on rotation. The party’s spokesman in Government said he had nothing to add to previous statements.
Another agreement made in 2007 provided for the Greens being allotted a second junior ministry in the mid-term reshuffle. This was part of a deal brokered with then taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
Yesterday, Green Party chairman Dan Boyle said it remained the party’s “hope and expectation” that the party would get a second junior ministry.
However, a number of senior Fianna Fáil figures said privately they thought this unlikely, pointing out that the Greens had been instrumental in arguing for the number of junior ministers being reduced from 20 to 15.
Speaking on RTÉ, Mr Boyle said an agreement had been reached with Fianna Fáil that the Greens would get a second ministry.
Asked about the agreement on a ministerial rotation, Mr Boyle said that it had come at a time in 2007 when the Greens were talking about how change would be managed in the lifetime of the current Government.
While making no comment publicly, others within the party said privately it was highly unlikely that Mr Gormley will step down as leader.