Political promises - Gormley’s latest U-turn

Keeping political promises seems to have become a thing of the past.

Green Party leader John Gormley has performed another political U-turn. While in opposition his party insisted that developers should not be allowed to buy their way out of obligations to build social and affordable housing.

Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 stipulated that 20% of all new estates should be devoted to such housing, but the Government amended this in 2002 to allow developers to pay local authorities in lieu of fulfilling their obligations. Now that Mr Gormley is not only in government, but is also the relevant minister, he is now insisting that the buyout provision remain in place. And that is not the only promise the party is betraying.

As late as this time last year his party was highly critical of ministers going abroad for St Patrick’s Day. But this year Mr Gormley and his fellow Green minister Eamon Ryan are going abroad for the feast day along with ex-party leader Trevor Sargent.

This may be hypocrisy rather than politics, but it is becoming very difficult to distinguish between them.