SKETCH:John Gormley had to combine a giddy-up for the activists with a state of the nation address for the media, writes Miriam Lord
DEPARTING ACTIVISTS complain about a worrying lack of chlorophyll in the Greens these days. According to them, the onset of this distressing condition can be scientifically traced to a leadership losing touch with its roots. If the situation is allowed to continue unchecked, the party will turn yellow.
They say that by the time local elections come around, the rot will have set in. Which is why they have made good their escape.
After that, nature will take its inevitable course, consigning the decomposing dreams of the Green Party to the compost heap of political history.
That’s one way of looking at it. And those who occupy the horticultural science wing of the party are welcome to their view. But at the moment, the political science wing holds sway – with two senior Ministers, one junior Minister, sundry parliamentarians and the balance of power.
So the Greens are staying put in Government, and members who believe this is unwise might be better off cultivating their opinions in pastures new.
Party stalwart Patricia McKenna remains, loudly deploring the chlorophyll deficiency, but insisting she will not move as long as there is still a chance that the old iron might return to the Greens. “Aaaw, do we have to talk about her,” groaned John Gormley on Saturday morning when a local election candidate brought up the subject of Patricia, former MEP and full-time thorn in the side of the party establishment. (We know this because a young reporter wandered by mistake into a closed session before she was turfed out.)
The Greens held a two-day think-in and political deportment course in Drogheda at the weekend for its election hopefuls, inviting the media along on the second day, but not expecting much of a turnout. However, after the resignations and with overblown talk of “meltdown” all the rage, there was quite a deal of interest in the event. It meant that party leader Gormley ended up having to marry his giddy-up speech to the sprouts with a state of the nation address to the journalists.
It had been a very “open and productive session” he said to the Green sprouts. “I think we leave here with a knowledge for the challenge ahead, but also with a sense of renewed hope.” Lucky them.
Then he looked beyond the sprouts, to the television cameras. There is a sense of anger among the people, said John, but “also, I think, a real sense of fear”. Never fear, the Greens are here. And prepared to lead.
Gormley gave his audience quite the lecture on leadership. It means “not turning your back or the avoidance of responsibility” and “hard work” and “innovation” and “actually coming up with new ideas” and “stepping up to the plate.” Brilliant. Why isn’t this man in Government?
Furthermore, politicians’ unique system of expenses and allowances will “have to go”.
He talked of changing the political culture. “We will lead by example.” (By following what the rest of us have had to do for donkey’s years.) Why isn’t this man in Government? He spoke of “New Green Deal” which is due any time now. It is “the way forward.” We should see it “in the coming weeks.” John can say for certain that it is going to be discussed at the forthcoming Green Party conference at the end of next month.
However, we can reveal that the deal has a lot to do with insulation. All will become clear in the Government “package” to be announced soon. As for the planned expenses clampdown, Gormley was asked afterwards if the Green Party was the driving force behind it, or was it simply part of an overall plan? “Absolutely,” said John.
Everyone went on to the roof for a photocall. It was freezing. Deputy Ciarán Cuffe scraped the frost off the ground and made a sort of snowball. But he decided not to throw it as it was a lump of ice and would have taken somebody’s eye out. Nobody seemed to notice the fact that they were, literally, standing on thin ice. They smiled for the cameras.
There was a quick press conference. “The mood is buoyant” said Gormley.
“We know the way forward. We know the way forward is the Green deal and it is something that we are going to be exploring at our party convention.”
He continued: “We know that people are concerned, they are frightened, but they want solutions and they want real leadership and that is what the Green Party is going to offer.” Insulation is the way.
John was on a roll. “This party has evolved, and this party will continue because this party is based on an idea. An idea whose time has come.” Why is this man not in Government? He has an idea, for God’s sake.
So what do the Greens say to people who complain of a lack of leadership from Brian Cowen and the top brass?
Eamon Ryan answered: “I think there will be leadership, and I think the country will get through this. It’s our job in Government to provide some of that leadership, and I think we can . . .”
As Eamon he sees it, the Government must “provide the values and approach and thinking, the sense of the future of where we need to go.
“Once we get that – the lesson of this country in the past is that – when you know where you’re going, when you have a vision, then half of the problem is solved. It’s only then a matter of technicalities how you get there.” No need to be frightened in these difficult times.