Gilmore accuses Greens of disengaging from Government

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore has claimed the Green Party is in the process of “disengaging from Government”.

He made the remarks after the Greens said they would not tell their supporters to give Fianna Fáil their second preferences in the three sets of elections on June 5.

Green chairman Dan Boyle said the party traditionally had never entered election pacts and the forthcoming elections would be no different.

“We’ve never given advice on how people should transfer subsequently and we’re not going to do so,” Mr Boyle told RTÉ. “This is our electoral strategy as an independent party and what we’re going to do to maintain our independence in all future elections.”

His remarks followed similar comments made by Green Minister Eamon Ryan the previous day.

Party leader John Gormley has also spoken of the “distinction” between the Greens and Fianna Fáil.

Mr Gilmore said this proved the party was now beginning a process of moving itself out of coalition with Fianna Fáil.

“I cannot recall any occasion in our political history when a party in Government has gone to such lengths to distance itself from its coalition partner,” Mr Gilmore said. “The subliminal message being sent out is: ‘Don’t vote for Fianna Fáil’.”

“The Greens’ attempt to depict themselves as semi-detached from the Government is essentially an effort to con the public. The two Green Party ministers are members of the cabinet and have been participants in every significant decision that this Government has made, including two botched budgets and the disastrous bank guarantee scheme.”

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams echoed those remarks, and said the Greens’ effort to distance themselves from Fianna Fáil represented “an act of desperation that will convince nobody”.

But a senior Green adviser said the party was simply trusting in the intelligence of its supporters.

“In saying that we’re not giving guidance to people, equally we’re not telling people to avoid transfers to Fianna Fáil,” he said.

Two Fianna Fáil ministers indicated they had no problem with the Greens seeking to draw the distinction between the two parties in an attempt to shore up their own vote.

“A similar position was taken by the Progressive Democrats when they were in Government with us, so it’s not unusual,” said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan. “The party wishes to pursue its own priorities in these elections and that’s its entitlement.”

The crucial point, he stressed, was that the Green ministers were working in tandem with their Fianna Fáil counterparts in Government making the tough decisions.

“And we’re working very well as a Government,” Mr Lenihan said.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said he had “absolutely no difficulty” with the Greens’ stance. “I’d be giving the same kind of advice to our own supporters,” he said.