Ireland

Greens say Government must learn 'basics'

The Government should go back to school to learn the basics, the Green Party claimed as it began its General Election campaign…

Paul Anderson
Thu Apr 25 2002 - 01:00

The Government should go back to school to learn the basics, the Green Party claimed as it began its General Election campaign today.

Trevor Sargent
Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent outside Leinster House this afternoon launching the party's General Election Campaign

But party leader Mr Trevor Sargent refused to rule out entering government with any party.

Issuing a report card showing the ways in which it claimed the Government have failed the people during its term, Mr Sargent emphasised quality-of-life issues.

The final note on the report card read: "This student rarely got to class on time - said it was the traffic! We recommend that this party student spends time in
Opposition learning the basics".

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Mr Sargent said the Greens' priorities, whether in government or opposition, was clean air, clean water, housing and public transport.

"We’re still waiting for a public transport system that can get people to work on time while houses are 80 per cent more expensive now than when the Government took the helm," Mr Sargent said.

Green Party
The Green Party report card

"The Green Party delivers a large fail grade to the outgoing coalition and we’re keen to turn this abysmal record around with policies which put people first," Mr Sargent added.

However, he refused to rule out entering coalition with one of the existing Government parties. He described Fianna Fáil as "the ultimate Irish political chameleon". "You never know what Fianna Fáil are going to say".

He said the Greens would seek to have their policies implemented and would decide if that was best done in government or in opposition.

But, in the midst of a small protest by anti-incineration activists outside Leinster House, Mr Sargent said his party would only enter Government if plans to build incinerators were abandoned.

He said he was confident his party would gain seats and referred to polls showing party support at 5-6 per cent nationally. He said constituency polls showed Mr Dan Boyle in Cork South Central and deputy leader Ms Mary White in Carlow/Kilkenny had a particularly good chance.