Green chairman says snap election possible

[OneRedArmy]

I hope they still have a 1/3 that will put principles ahead of the power at all costs of their leadership.

Based on the history of Government in this country they'd never go into coalition on that basis.

[OneRedArmy]

Surely you can see there is an over-lap between the current financial crises and the Green Chairman not ruling out a snap election?

I can, but I think trying to state that FF are victims of circumstance and external events is simply outrageous.

[dahamsta]

All Green initiatives that are going to make ireland a brighter, healthier place.

The fact that you sound like an ad for the greens aside... and what about their non-green policies? Do they not matter? It's ok with you that they've backtracked, u-turned and lied* on everthing else?

adam

* I don't say this lightly. Ryan has outright lied as minister for communications, and I'll testify to that in court if he's like to sue me for it.

[osarusan]

* I don't say this lightly. Ryan has outright lied as minister for communications, and I'll testify to that in court if he's like to sue me for it.

"Please state your name for the record."

"Dahamsta."

[Macy]

There are plenty of other projects that have been knocking around for years that have yet to get the go-ahead and indeed in some cases might never...i.e..e-voting, decentralisation, National Mental Hospital, the new prison, Bertie Bowl etc etc.....The greens came in and made sure that their particular sector was put into gear fairly lively. The wind farm sector has only recently announced the creation of 600 new energy jobs over the next 10 years. The Government plastic bag tax is going up again, and rightly so, in the next budget. The importance of the new eco-light bulb scheme cannot be overstressed. Even more recently look at the unveiling of the DublinBikes scheme. Also the Bike purchase scheme for civil servants. All Green initiatives that are going to make ireland a brighter, healthier place.

e-voting was already dead, and what did Gormley do? Commission another report on what to do with them (which still hasn't reported).
National Mental Hospital isn't going to Thornton Hall, because the site isn't big enough.
Given the state of the prisons, now they've paid the money they should get it built, unless the Greens actually favour the conditions in Mountjoy?
Decentralisation isn't officially dead, it's postponed due to lack of finance for new buildings.
You're an election to late claiming credit for Bertie Bowl going - Greens weren't in Government when that was callled off.
The phasing out of incandescent light bulbs is an EU wide thing, nothing to do with the greens (and their solo run, which the EU put them back in their box about).
Any Green Ministers happen to own a bike shop?
Doubling the bag tax is just revenue raising, which will do little for the residual use.
The wind farms would've happened anyway, but still, at least we'll have access to more nuclear power via the interconnector...

[bennocelt]

It was obviously those 2 years in the last 20 that they were out of power that fooked everything up.

The Greens take the blame for going in with FF after the last election, and share collective cabinet responsibility for every decision since. I hope they get the kicking they deserve, and can rebuild without the sell outs they have leading them now. Peeing about with minor environmental details whilst Rome burns just doesn't cut it. Ryan, White, De Burca and particularly Boyle and Gormley have become the type of politicians they used to hate.

It'll be interesting to see how what's left of the party votes on the programme for Government and NAMA. I hope they still have a 1/3 that will put principles ahead of the power at all costs of their leadership. However bad an election might go for them if they pull it down, if it's pulled down by FF backbenchers they are really screwed.

Exactly, couldnt but it better myself
Wonder will they ever survive the kicking they will get in the next election

[dahamsta]

That begs the question.

Is that a whole post?

[mypost]

If the Greens pass their motion, they will remain there until the term ends, and face wipeout at the next election, if the economy hasn't recovered.

If they pull the plug now, they'll get a kicking, but not wipeout. They'll be seen as doing the right thing for the country, and giving the people what they want. They can then oppose whatever they like in opposition.

FF though will be slaughtered either way.

[Ringo]

ah , you should have left that up, i was enjoying his innocence!!!

[Mr A]

Some interesting proposals in here: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...255614249.html

The thing is though that there's nothing about where expenditure can be reduced. All very well saying what we need to spend money on, but where the hell are we going to get it? Unless the tax measures are really punitive then this looks unaffordable.

[mypost]

The Greens approved both NAMA and the revised Programme for Government, so after all the fighting talk, their members collapsed like a pack of cards when they had to put their money where their mouth was.

It all means 2.5 more years of misery with FF for the rest of us, and JOD relegated to the backbenches.

[Mr A]

I think they had feck all choice to be honest. If they had gone to the people they'd have been wiped out.

Interesting times ahead though- can FF keep the back benches in line through the budget?