Gormley Cabinet future in question over deal

MINISTER John Gormley’s future in Cabinet is in question after his party refused to deny the existence of an internal Green Party deal to rotate ministerial positions.

The party’s spokesman in Government issued a statement last night which did not address the key question put to him: that the Green Party leader had promised to move aside mid-term and allow one of his back-bench colleagues a spell in Cabinet.

The spokesman said this was speculation.

Further speculation has pointed at Gormley getting a “super” junior minister’s job straddling finance and the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility for public service reform.

Mr Gormley has been in discussions with Taoiseach Brian Cowen regarding the wider Cabinet reshuffle. However, the statement said nothing had been finalised.

“There are only two people who know the timing of any Cabinet reshuffle and of any personnel changes: Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Minister for the Environment John Gormley.

“At this stage anything else is total speculation. We will make no further comment until the Taoiseach makes his plans known,” the spokesman said.

Earlier he said it would be clearer in the coming days but ultimately it was a matter for the Taoiseach.

In a post on the internet site Twitter last night, Green Party chairman Dan Boyle said Mr Gormley would make his own decision on whether he should step down sooner rather than later. “Look it’s speculation. As leader John decides when or if he is to leave cabinet. Could be tomorrow, could be two years’ time,” Mr Boyle said.

In an earlier message Mr Boyle said he was not aware of any imminent move on Mr Gormley’s part. “As far as I know John has no intention of stepping down.”

Mr Boyle was responding to suggestions there was a pre-existing deal that Dun Laoghaire Deputy Ciarán Cuffe would take over the party leadership, and a ministry, halfway through the Government’s term.

Mr Gormley is not expected to step down voluntarily and is likely to remain in Cabinet after the Taoiseach’s reshuffle.

However, if the Environment Minister was to renege on such a deal it would worsen tensions in a party still recovering from the acrimonious departure of former senator Déirdre de Búrca, who blamed her colleagues for failing to fulfil a promise to provide her with a plum European job.

Strife within the Green Party has heightened speculation around the looming reshuffle with the Taoiseach given more spots to fill than had initially been available.

Tourism Minister Martin Cullen is expected to resign after he was admitted to hospital with a long-standing chronic back complaint.

The Taoiseach has already to fill the vacancies created by the resignation of Willie O’Dea and Trevor Sargent.