FG: Gogarty a rebel without a clue
Scrambling to regain credibility on the issue, Mr Gogarty told the Dáil that “the Greens are neither pulling out of government nor climbing down on the education issue”.
“We remain committed to working within government to effect positive change,” he said.
Mr Gogarty made the remarks just hours after it emerged he sent an email to a constituent saying: “We may eventually have to pull out of government on this or combined issues but it is not going to happen until we have exhausted all avenues. I will just have to take the flak and put up with it for now.” The email was a response to Dr Peter Duffy, a physics lecturer in UCD and member of the board of management of Moyle Park College, Clondalkin, in Mr Gogarty’s Dublin Mid-West constituency.
It was sent on Monday evening, hours after Green party leader John Gormley publicly reaffirmed the Green’s “active and progressive participation in Government”. Mr Gogarty said that his emails suggested pulling out of government was “a possibility” and not “a definite”.
Yesterday, he supported the Government in a Dáil vote backing the cutbacks in the budget which will lead to an increase in class sizes and a reduction in language support teachers.
Mr Gogarty insisted the Greens were working behind the scenes to get a better deal for schools.
“I remain a strong critic of education funding in general. The onus is on the minister for finance, the Taoiseach, the Cabinet, those on the opposition benches and the Green Party to try to work to increase that funding.”
Fine Gael’s spokesperson on education Brian Hayes said Mr Gogarty was “a joke” and condemned Mr Gogarty’s failure to turn up to a Dáil debate on the issue on Wednesday night.
Mr Hayes said: “Everyone knows Paul Gogarty is the original rebel without a clue, but I’m seriously beginning to worry for his mental health as he continues to lead a double life.
“Who now speaks for the Greens in government? Is it Gogarty who, despite his self-styled image as a champion of education, failed to even turn up for the Dáil debate last night? Or is it John Gormley who, regardless of Gogarty’s fulminations, has only reinforced the view that the Greens have no moral, political or social bottom line when it comes to propping up Fianna Fáil?” Mr Hayes asked.
Green minister Eamon Ryan went out of his way to back Mr Gogarty, as he insisted the cuts were needed due to the massive financial problems facing the country.
