‘Our patience has reached an end... we can no longer continue’

Statement from Green Party leader John Gormley announcing the party’s decision to leave Government:

ON November 22 last we said that an election should be held early this year because of the events surrounding the IMF bailout. On that occasion we identified four key priorities which needed to be addressed before this election could take place. These were: concluding financial arrangements with the EU/IMF; producing a four-year economic plan; passing Budget 2011; and passing the Finance Bill to give effect to that budget.

Today, three of these four objectives have been completed. We believe it is possible to complete the Finance Bill quickly before going to a general election.