Gormley: Ahern's vision put Greens in Government

Green Party Leader John Gormley today paid a warm tribute to Bertie Ahern as the Taoiseach announced that he would stand down on May 6.

Mr Gormley said he and colleagues, Eamon Ryan and Trevor Sargent, "would not be in government without Mr Ahern's political vision and foresight".

Minister Gormley said: "Bertie Ahern recognised the critical importance of issues like climate change and energy security for future generations. On that basis he opened the negotiations which ultimately put the Green agenda at the heart of government."