De Burca claims existence of 'rotation' deal

Former Green party senator Deirdre de Burca has said the party did have in place an agreement which would see Cabinet posts rotated between parliamentary party members.

The party has officially refused to comment on the alleged existence of the 'rotation' policy, which is reported to have intended that leader John Gormley stand down as a minister to be replaced by another parliamentary party member - most likely Ciaran Cuffe.

De Burca, who quit the Senate and her party membership last month citing a loss of confidence in Minister Gormley, said she wasn't initially aware of the "musical chairs" agreement when she joined the Green parliamentary party, but was later told about it by former colleague, Green Senator Dan Boyle.

"I was shocked to hear it," she said. "I had no idea why it had been agreed."

"But I have to say, it was never discussed again after that," she said. "There was no reference to it of any kind in the parliamentary party during my time (there), up until very recent months, as just before Christmas it began to be discussed as something that would have to be dealt with."