A manifesto that’s very short on vote-getters

AT the last election in 2007, the Greens had the luxury of being able to campaign on their number-one issue: climate change.

Following a spell in government that has been disastrous for the party, all has changed utterly.

Asked to name the “big ticket item” of yesterday’s election manifesto, Green leader John Gormley responded: “The number one priority for us, and I think for the Irish people as well, is jobs — it has to be.”