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“Green Party Swap Principle for Power”, Roche Gives Them First Test on That
Read more about: Fine Gael, Government, Green Party
That is the response of Enda Kenny, speaking in the Dail he stated they had “saved some rainforest by cutting and pasting so much Fianna Fail manifesto into the programme for government”.
Edit: Dick Roche signed off on the M3 in one of his final acts as Minister, that is likely to test Kenny’s assertions very early on.
Note also given to Trevor’s very passionate defence of the Green Party in response to Kenny, accusing him of not wanting to be in government. He suggested that if Kenny wanted power he would have talked to Sinn Fein.
That’s actually a pretty good line! (actually the odd decent one-liner is probably the only worthwhile thing to ever come out of the dungheap on Kildare St.)
Except that Enda got it wrong - the Greens swapped principles for the illusion of power.
What’s the betting that not one of the reports, committees, papers, sterring groups or whatever in the the Programme for Government will be transformed into concrete proposals adopted by the Dail?
It was the line about the rainforest that I was commending by the way. You could also add ‘trappings of power’ to what they got (ie mercs, pomp and ceremony and so on) - probably makes it easier to suspend disbelief in the illusion of power too!
The last minute decision by Dick Roche to sign an order allowing the building of the M3 over the new henge discovered at Tara - while appalling - nonetheless demonstrates the possible benefits to future discoveries of this kind of John Gormley holding the Environment portfolio.
Like Enda knows the idea of “cut and paste”. He’ll be doing a Mary Hannafin next and talking about “The bebo”.
He suggested that if Kenny wanted power he would have talked to Sinn Fein.
Obviously Trevor doesn’t understand the idea that not everything should be sacrificed for a slice of power. That comment really sums things up for me about the Green’s current mindset, as they were saying last night - its not about the programme for government, it is about being in government.
Harry McGee made the point on Morning Ireland that maybe Roche did Gormley a favour. Although this has been a disastrous, wrong headed plan from the start - more like plan, what plan? - the aagreement reached was that there was no going back on it now. I imagine it would be even harder for Gormely to sign it, although Dan Boyle was on Prime Time last night saying that Gormley will review the decision this very morning. But maybe that’s more of the Green’s new found ability at doublespeak.
Also, you’re right John, Trevor was being a bollix. They’re delighted to be the larger second party in a FF coalition, with two ministries, and a couple of super juniors. There’s little chance they would have got that in a FG/Labour/Green/Sinn Fein/Independents coalition. It’s like Trev saying ‘Hey, Enda, its all your fault we’re currently enjoying the greatest political success we’re ever likely to get’.
Green Party principles can’t do much for Ireland if they are not enacted. By going into govt they have a chance to enact at least some of them. They now have control of two important ministries - that’s hardly the illusion of power except to anyone but the most ardent negativist - and if they had refused then somebody from FF would be in charge of those two huge responsibilities. I think its a brave and positive decision by the Greens; let’s see if they’re up to the task.
I wouldn’t call it a “brave” and/or a “positive direction” for anyone to prop up Harney as Minister for Health and go along with a privatisation agenda for our health service. Selling out the sick and vulnerable to the PDs is nothing to be proud or excited about. The Greens are incredibly disappointing.
I think its a brave and positive decision by the Greens; let’s see if they’re up to the task.
How is it brave?
I’ve heard this a few times and genuinely cannot understand it.
“Selling out the sick and vulnerable to the PDs is nothing to be proud or excited about.”
The present situation pre co-location, where 20% of public-hospital beds are occupied by privately-insured patients - is far more a threat to the vulnerable 46% who don’t have health-insurance. Co-location is a boost for them as private-patients will be in private-hospitals instead of clogging up the public-hospital system, freeing up beds.
DR authorised the bulldozing of national heritage while being demoted from cabinet. I’d want to have been offered something very plum as a reward for going that quietly.
“I wouldn’t call it a “brave” and/or a “positive direction” for anyone to prop up Harney as Minister for Health and go along with a privatisation agenda for our health service. Selling out the sick and vulnerable to the PDs is nothing to be proud or excited about. The Greens are incredibly disappointing.”
If the Greens had turned down the offer would Mary Harney not have been made Minister for Health? No, FF had other options and Harney would still have been made Minister for Health. What does the Greens being in opposition achieve? Nothing. What does the Greens being in government achieve? They’ve two portfolios with which they can make an important contribution to the country. People might say they didn’t get a brilliant deal but its not like they were in a brilliant bargaining position.
“How is it brave?”
Because the inevitable cries of ’sell-out’ will come thick and hard from the negativists, as they are already before they’ve even done anything. The easier road woudl have been to stay outside and hurl abuse into the tent rather than come inside and try to change it.