New coalition - The Green machine is on a rocky road

THE first real test of Green Party mettle within the new coalition has raised fundamental questions about the party’s future relationship with Fianna Fáil.

Having got into bed with a party renowned for stroke-pulling, and a brand of arrogance bred of long years in power, Environment Minister John Gormley was wrong-footed before he could blink.

No wonder the Greens were incensed at the last minute move by outgoing Minister Dick Roche to sign an order for the “preservation by record” of the recently discovered prehistoric henge at Lismullin, Co Meath, on the route of the planned M3 motorway.