Green councillor quits in protest at Budget cuts

A Green councillor in Co Westmeath has resigned from the party in protest at the cutbacks contained in last week's Budget.

Betty Doran's decision is the latest in a string of resignations from the Government parties since the Budget was unveiled last week.

News of her resignation comes amid apparent tension between Fianna Fáil and the Greens over planned cuts in education.

Speaking earlier today, Green Party TD Paul Gogarty said he believed the Government would make a climbdown on the cuts after already rowing back on controversial decisions relating to over-70s medical cards and the new 1% income tax.

Mr Gogarty has himself put forward alternative proposals that he says would achieve the same savings.

Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has also said that changes could be made to the education cuts, but several Fianna Fáil ministers, as well as the Taoiseach, have insisted that the decisions made in the Budget will stand.