Party red-faced as donation plan is shot down

THE Green Party was left red-faced last night after a mess of its own making over the ministerial pay increases.

On Monday, party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley said he would use his €25,000 pay increase to fund his party — meaning the taxpayer would be giving money to the Greens by proxy. He said the party required funding for its activities, in particular a climate change fund it was proposing to establish.

He added to those comments by telling RTÉ yesterday morning that he would hand over the entire increase to the party.