Gormley plays down rift with FF over scrapping of e-voting machines

A POSSIBLE bust-up among the Government coalition partners over the decision to scrap e-voting machines has been downplayed by Green Party leader John Gormley.

He denied he had gone on a solo run when he announced, during a visit to University College Cork, that the controversial machines would be discarded.

Mr Gormley said any misgivings individuals in Fianna Fáil may have had were sorted out.

“When you get a group of people coming together, particularly a group from different parties, you will get different opinions and tensions.

“[But] any tensions that did exist have been resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned,” he said.

It was reported that he made his decision public despite a cabinet decision to refer the matter to an Oireachtas committee.

The ultimate abandonment of e-voting was widely supported but it was suggested the ministers who first developed the project, Noel Dempsey and Martin Cullen, were furious Mr Gormley went ahead without approval.

However, the Green Party leader was adamant it was a cabinet decision which he said made sense.

“I made that decision on the basis of the very best advice,” he said.

He said he was bound by cabinet confidentiality but insisted “there was no reference to any Dáil committee”.

A spokesman for the Government said it was a collective decision.

Mr Gormley was speaking as he unveiled his party’s environmentally friendly election posters where he said he did not believe the addition of a blasphemy clause into the Defamation Bill was a major issue at this stage.

His party colleague Ciaran Cuffe suggested a referendum would be preferable to resolve the constitutional issues but Mr Gormley said he would not take this up until it was brought to cabinet and he could assess it fully.

In terms of canvassing for the upcoming elections he said his party did not have the resources to compete with other parties.

However, the Greens have been criticised for sidestepping the rules on posters in the minister’s constituency. Dublin City Labour Party Cllr Dermot Lacey said Green Party posters went up last week.

He said: “If Minister Gormley is to retain credibility he must immediately seek the removal of these posters or/and that immediate action be taken by the authorities to prosecute the Green candidates and Party.”

Mr Gormley warned all candidates not to erect posters before May 6.