Greens become what they hate

TREVOR Sargent’s representations to the gardaí to drop a prosecution begs the question that if a squeaky clean TD can do that, what are less honourable TDs getting up to? Some applaud Sargent for going quickly and with dignity, unlike Willie O’Dea.

But Sargent had no choice because his unethical conduct was so outrageous not even the most brazen Fianna Fáiler would have attempted to ride it out.

The rapid fall of the Greens from the dizzying heights of moral smugness to the slurry pit of Fianna Fáil gombeenism is a sight to behold.

Unashamedly, several former Green councillors have been appointed to various state boards, while two more have become senators.

A Green senator took her ball off the pitch and went home in a sulk because she wasn’t given a crony job in Brussels for which she had no qualifications or experience. Green TDs trooped into the lobbies to vote confidence in a minister who defamed a councillor for electoral purposes. And now it’s been revealed that a Green minister wrote to a garda on official notepaper to drop a criminal prosecution. It is notable the Greens, in the confidence debate on O’Dea and in the aftermath of Sargent’s resignation, said politicians should be focusing on the economy and jobs. So are they saying unethical conduct is alright if there is an economic crisis? Cronyism, gombeenism and clientelism ... it seems the Greens have become what they hate – just another bunch of greasy, power-hungry sleveens with no ethics and no credibility.

Jason Fitzharris

Rivervalley

Swords

Co Dublin