Public transport must be a budget priority, says Gormley

PUBLIC transport should be given priority over some road projects in next month’s budget, according to Environment Minister and Green Party leader, John Gormley.

Mr Gormley said the junior party in government will ensure environmental protection remains a priority in October’s budget which he said will provide an opportunity for the “greening of the economy”.

Speaking in Tralee yesterday at the Green Party think-in, Mr Gormley said: “As far as we are concerned we have a number of priorities. We have to protect the most vulnerable in society but also ensure that major environmental infrastructural projects continue so that we can comply with EU directives.”

He said the Green Party is in a “negotiating process” with its senior partners in Government on issues such as carbon tax which the Greens have pursued.

“The carbon levy is being discussed now in the Taxation Commission, they’re going to bring forward proposals in September. It will be part of an overall package looking at a whole range of issues,” he said.

Mr Gormley said that public transport has to take priority in capital spending. “There are certain road projects, mainly motorways, that have been committed to. But other road projects have to be looked at. We’re looking at that and we have to ensure that we get the balance right so that the ratio between public transport and roadways is kept intact and that public transport is given priority,” he said.

Mr Gormley made a comparison to California which he said “is going through the same sort of issues as we are in terms of the credit crunch and yet they are proceeding with the greening of the economy”.

Mr Gormley said he has not yet discussed the issue of re-introducing third-level fees with Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe, but said: “It’s quite clear that across a range of issues, a range of departments there are a number of difficult decisions that have to be made.”

The Green Party will run twice as many candidates in next year’s local election as it did five years ago and Mr Gormley believes his party will increase its number of local authority seats. He said the party’s candidate for Dublin in the European Parliament elections, Senator Deirdre Burca will have “a very tough contest”.

Referring to former Green Party MEP, Patricia McKenna he said: “She is still a member of the Greens, I really don’t know what her intentions are at this stage.”