"It's Time to Change the Government"

This is an election 2007 leaflet from Ciaran Cuffe.


"It's Time to Change the Government" eh Ciaran?

Well, no. Not really. Another in a voluminous list of things the Greens say, and then do the exact opposite.

Ciaran supports this FF Government with more vigor, commitment, and passion (dare I say the word "love"?) than even the FF backbenchers do.

Attempt to move by-election writ defeated on casting vote of Ceann Comhairle

A Sinn Fein motion seeking to have the writ moved for the Donegal South West by-election was defeated on May 5th 2010 on the casting vote of Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk. The vote was 76 for and 76 against, and as is traditional, the chair went with the government.

The debate was opened by Sinn Fein Deputy Caomhain O’Caolain, followed by Fine Gael Deputy Dinny Mc Ginley, who said that Donegal South West is seriously underrepresented at the moment, doubly so because Tanaiste Mary Coughlan has to spend so much time on national duties.

However, confirming that the government would be blocking the move, Minister of State John Curran said the governments focus at present is on taking steps to address the economic crisis. He said the government has no wish to distract from that work, and argued that the county is being well represented.

Needless to say all Green TD's and Ministers voted with the Government.

Dan Boyle has tweeted that all three pending by-elections will be held at the same time as the Dublin Mayoral election. We'll see what happens ...

Political corruption and Green Inaction

Excellent comment piece in the Irish Times of May 5th, 2010.

There has been much talk, but little follow-through, concerning the nasty reality of political corruption in this State. Early last year, Minister for the Environment John Gormley undertook to break the link between big business and politics and promised radical legislation to restrict political donations and spending. A year on: the legislation hasn’t appeared and Mr Gormley complains at the Green Party annual conference of unacceptable rezoning decisions and of councillors from other parties being in thrall to developers. What is going on?

Where is the promised legislation Minister Gormley?

Where is the promised ban on corporate donations Minister Gormley?

Makes these election leaflets from 2007 look kind of ironic. "Green politics ... Clean politics" indeed.

Greens take first Commons seat

Well done to Caroline Lucas leader of the UK Green Party who won the party's first seat in the House of Commons yesterday. She defeated the Labour incumbent in Brighton Pavilion. Ms Lucas won 16,238 votes as compared with 14,986 for Labour and 12,275 for the Conservatives. The 1,252-vote majority overturned a Labour majority of 5,030 at the 2005 election.

Typical Green Party ... say you support something and then vote against it!

The Green Party has been calling loudly for pensions for all sitting members of the Dail to be scrapped. Green Minister of State Mary White said the Green Party had always objected to the dual payments system which she described as a “travesty”.

But then Ms. White and the rest of the Green's vote against a motion by Fine Gael that would have banned such payments.

This one single incident typifies everything the Green Party have now become.

Link and link.