Minister Ryan attended yesterday's press conference on the reports alongside Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Mr Lenihan. But the body language of Eamon Ryan was less positive, and he radiated a discomfort similar to the day when he was obliged to defend Willie O'Dea, the then Defence Minister, in the Dail. Ryan said the two reports revealed a systemic failure of the political, regulatory and banking systems that had "cost us dear". "The Green Party wasn't in Government for the long period when these failings developed but we are responsible for the actions of this Government and the response to try and get us out of these difficult circumstances we find ourselves in," Mr Ryan said.
Minister Ryan also said a "quick, open and thorough" banking inquiry was necessary. He welcomed the fact that the terms of reference included all the "actors" who had something to contribute to banking and economic decisions.
The usually talkative Communications Minister kept his communication to a brief two minutes.
I fully accept that the Green Party are not responsible for getting us into this mess, and Minister Ryan is correct that the Greens were not in power at the time and that they were one of the only parties warning of the dangers of a property bubble and shouting "stop". However I also agree with Minister Ryan that the Greens are now "responsible for the actions of this Government" which include everything that has been done since the Summer of 2007. That includes keeping the people who are directly responsible for this mess in power, and supporting everything they have done with more passion and commitment than even some members of the Fianna Fail party.
Good to hear Minister Ryan admitting this. People will remember that the Green Party have played a big role in where this country currently finds itself. And that is exactly why the Green Party will be remembered for destroying Green politics in this country for a very long time.
No comments:
Post a Comment