Have the Greens shown their true colours?

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley claimed there is no U-turn on incineration.

The facts, however, speak for themselves. Only five short months ago Gormley was elected with significant support on the basis of his principled opposition to incineration.

Only one short year ago, Gormley was standing with us at a protest outside the same pro-incineration conference he spoke at yesterday. Speaking to the Dáil in June 2006, John Gormley said that incineration was an “unsustainable technology”. What has changed since then minister?

To what point will you disown your previous principles to stay in power?

First to be shelved after the election was their stated principle of getting Bertie Ahern, FF and the PDs out of power, then it was co-location of private hospitals on public land, Shannon, the people of Rossport and now it is incineration.

Before the election, Gormley also publicly stated his support for the retention of cancer services in St Luke’s Hospital Rathgar. Has this also been shelved? The Green Party and Gormley are in a precarious position. Many of those who helped elect them on the basis of their principles are watching with a sense of disbelief.

The previous differences in policy between the Green Party and the mainstream parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are rapidly dissipating with each new compromise.

Come the next election will the Greens stand for anything radically different?

Rory Hearne

People Before Profit Alliance

Christchurch

Dublin