Former Green Senator acknowledges job rotation deal

Explosive stuff from former Green party senator Deirdre De Burca here http://www.newstalk.ie/news/news-headlines/former-green-senator-acknowledges-job-rotation-deal638/

Deirdre deBurca has confirmed the existence of a deal to play musical chairs with its cabinet posts. There’s been no official comment from within the party on the plans to have John Gormley stand down as a Minister to be replaced by another parliamentary party member – most likely Ciaran Cuffe.

Ms deBurca quit the Senate and her party membership last month, citing a loss of confidence in John Gormley as leader. She says she was made aware of the ministerial rotation deal by former colleague Dan Boyle after she joined the parliamentary party.

“I was shocked to hear it, I had no idea why it had been agreed” she said. “But I have to say it was never discussed again after that – there was no reference to it of any kind in the parliamentary party during my time in the parliamentary party up until very recent months”.

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan denied knowledge of an agreement regarding a fourth Green ministerial position made with Fianna Fáil during the Programme for Government negotiations. When asked about a possible agreement between the parties on the News at One this afternoon Mr Ryan said “nothing’s agreed as far as I’m concerned”. He said any reshuffle is “a matter for the Taoiseach and work for Minister Gormley - I’ll let them get on with it”. Source.

Whatever way you look at this it's an unholy mess for the Greens. Secret deals, one Green Minister not knowing what the other is doing, leaks, the raw pursuit of office, the vicious fight to get to the trough ... it all looks horribly sordid and amateurish. The claim that the Greens are a party who stand for transparency & honesty is now truly dead and buried. Deirdre managed to put the final nail into that particular coffin earlier today.