Greens accuse Fianna Fáil of ‘selling out’

A STINGING attack on Fianna Fáil’s past links to corruption set the tempo last night for the Green Party’s annual convention.

Party leader Trevor Sargent, maintaining a recent line of Dáil attack, accused the Government of selling out to vested interests

"Maybe Frank Dunlop, the former FF Government press secretary, understands what makes this Government tick more than most," he said.

Mr Dunlop told the Mahon Tribunal yesterday that when a crooked FF politician was bought, he stayed bought.

"When you see who dines in the Fianna Fáil tent at the Galway Races, it is clear this Government is well bought by those who benefit most from Irish society being more divided and vulnerable than ever," he said.

Mr Sargent accused Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats of being "a disgrace to the men and women of 1916 and the principles of sovereignty and equality for which they died".

But, in an attempt to steal the limelight, Environment Minister Dick Roche yesterday branded the Greens "a roadblock" to progress.

"The reality is that whatever manoeuvres the Greens indulge in this weekend, they remain the enemies of progress," he said.

As possibly the Green Party's last convention before the next general election, this weekend in Kilkenny is crucial for the party as it faces the prospect of entering Government for the first time.

And, conscious of the need to maintain and possibly increase the number of Green TDs, Mr Sargent paid tribute to local Carlow/Kilkenny candidate and deputy party leader Cllr Mary White.

"Her energy is legendary but her achievements in tackling Government failure in the closure of the Carlow Sugar Factory and the rallying support for a biofuel plant gives hope and new livelihoods to farmers and former sugar plant workers," he said.

Meanwhile, Irish Congress of Trade Union general secretary David Begg told delegates that Ireland's current economic model would have to change.

"We have achieved the 'catch-up' phase of our economic development and must now address the deficits in our social and economic infrastructure. Our current model is unsustainable we need a vision of the type of country we want," he said.

Mr Begg said predictions of the population rising to 5.5 million by 2030 meant more long-term sustainable options would have to be implemented.

"In this context, it seems obvious to me that maintaining a policy model aimed at maximising economic growth is madness."