Green Party TD Paul Gogarty strongly criticised Labour and Fine Gael in the Dáil last night. His remarks contrasted with the contribution of party colleague Ciarán Cuffe who welcomed the prospect of an FG-Labour-Green Party rainbow alliance after the election.
Mr Gogarty ridiculed a Labour-FG private members' motion calling for an immediate general election, but he voted with his party and other Opposition parties and Independents against the Government. A Government amendment to the motion endorsing its policy was carried by 82 votes to 61.
Mr Gogarty described the Labour-FG motion as "opportunistic, cynical and pointless", adding that the only person who could call an election was the Taoiseach. "There are many reasons why an election should be called and why voters would love for it to be called." But, said the Dublin Mid West TD, the two parties moving the motion would be "seriously inconvenienced" if Mr Ahern went to the country.
"Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and the PDs all currently signify the triumph of style over substance, of populism over policies, tweedledum or tweedledee. The Mullingar accord is a flag of inconvenience."
Mr Cuffe, who represents Dún Laoghaire, said: "We would happily form part of a government that would take on board our policies." Outlining a range of Green Party policies, he added: "My opinion is that the rainbow government was a good one, and we would be happy to add colour and depth to a future rainbow."
Earlier, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue said: "The remnants of the rainbow coalition government, whose constituent parts include old Labour, the retired revolutionaries of Democratic Left and the battered survivors of Fine Gael's last decade, are joined today by the Green Party and whatever you are having yourself in an attempt at the greatest piece of public deception since the foundation of the State."
At least Fine Gael was consistent, he said. "It is 25 years since the party won a general election and it is 25 years since it put a credible economic policy before the Irish people."
Tánaiste Mary Harney accused the Opposition of engaging in "bumble-bee soccer", with everybody swarming around the ball, all over the pitch, without coherence, co-ordination or strategy and no goals being scored.
Fine Gael finance spokesman Richard Bruton accused the Government of breaking its promise in areas like health and education. Labour education spokeswoman Jan O'Sullivan said despite having the money, making the specific promise, the Government had broken its trust with schoolchildren.
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said his party had no difficulty in supporting the points in the Labour-FG motion, but it did not go far enough.
Paddy McHugh (Ind, Galway East) said the Government's waste of money was unforgiveable. Paudge Connolly (Ind, Cavan-Monaghan) said it was accepted that the election would be in May or June next year. "If the Opposition is serious about an election, why give the Government a pairing arrangement? Are we afraid of our wish being granted?" He would not support the motion.
Catherine Murphy (Ind, Kildare North) accused the Government of high-profile failures, while James Breen (Ind, Clare) said people were in revolt against the Government. Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central) said people would welcome an opportunity for an election to remove the wasteful Government.
