Green Party response:MINISTER FOR the Environment John Gormley said it was clear from the Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll yesterday that trust in the Government had been eroded. However, he said the Greens would remain part of the Coalition "as long as the Programme for Government is being implemented".
Mr Gormley, speaking in Cork, said: "The fact is that of course you are going to get dissatisfaction against the backdrop of one of the most severe budgets that we have ever had. And I think, that as far as my party's participation in Government is concerned, we are aware of that.
"But we're also aware of the fact that we have to continue implementing the Programme for Government. I think that is what the people want, and that's what our supporters want. And that, I think, accounts for our own relative stability in terms of the ratings."
When asked if he would accept that the Government had lost the public's trust, he said: "Well, if you were to look at the poll readings and if you were to look at particularly the MRBI poll, it's very clear that trust in the Government has been eroded. And I think it's down to the Budget.
"I think people feel as well...that they were conned at the last election; that they were told that things were going to continue and things have not continued, and that's the problem for them and there is a real level of dissatisfaction."
Asked if he was suggesting that Fianna Fáil had deceived the electorate at the last election, Mr Gormley said all political parties had engaged in projections which proven to be inaccurate.
"Look at the promises and projections from all the political parties at the last election, and, in fact, I would have to say that those of my colleague Dan Boyle were the most accurate in terms of economic growth, so people feel they have been sold a pup and they are dissatisfied."