Gormley moves to reassure party after ‘difficult week’

GREEN PARTY leader John Gormley yesterday admitted it had been a “difficult week”, but insisted it was better to be in Government than opposition.

Two Green councillors resigned last week in protest at the party’s performance in coalition. In addition, one of the most prominent members of the party, former MEP Patricia McKenna, said she was considering running for June’s European elections under an “independent Green” banner.

But Mr Gormley insisted that the mood within the party was “positive” and “realistic” at the same time.

The party held a weekend strategy conference for candidates standing in the local elections, to be held in June.

“The mood was positive, but the mood was also realistic, because they know that we’re in government at a difficult time. We happen to be in government during the worst economic recession in the history of the state,” Mr Gormley told RTÉ.

“Opposition is not very challenging, it’s not very productive, but you’re within your comfort zone. When you’re in government, it is enormously challenging, it is productive, but you’re not within your comfort zone.

“It can be uncomfortable, and it certainly has been uncomfortable since October 14, since the budget. But we’re not going to shirk our responsibilities.”

In a bid to reassure candidates who fear the party is losing its identity in government, which in turn would threaten their hopes in the elections, Mr Gormley announced a series of new initiatives.

He said he would bring forward “radical” planning legislation that would mean “the days of dodgy rezonings are over”.

He also pledged to reform the generous expenses system enjoyed by TDs and senators. Although Mr Gormley did not give specifics, a spokesman later suggested this could involve ending the current practice whereby TDs and senators do not have to provide receipts for the expenses they claim, and moving instead towards a vouched system.

Mr Gormley said he was not worried about the possibility that the Greens could suffer the same fate as the PDs and suffer devastating election losses because of their close association with Fianna Fáil.

“No, because I think we’re a very different party to the PDs. The Greens are a party that is based on an idea whose time has come. And you can’t kill an idea,” he said.