THE RESIGNATIONS of two Green Party councillors, in protest against the party’s participation in Government with Fianna Fáil, might have been expected given rising unemployment figures, a deepening recession and approaching local elections. Participation in government is never easy for small parties. And, when times are hard, it can be quite traumatic. In this instance, it is significant that the councillors involved will contest the June elections as Independents.
The carefully orchestrated resignations put pressure on party leader John Gormley and his colleagues to review their position in Government. But, having worked so hard to get there, Ministers were unwilling to walk away because, they said, a broad Green Party agenda was being advanced.
Former MEP Patricia McKenna was shocked by their willingness to allow councillors to leave. And she spoke of the party being “in free fall”. It wasn’t a convincing performance. Opinion polls show support for the Green Party to have fluctuated between 4 and 5 per cent since the 2007 general election. In the same period, support for Fianna Fáil fell from 42 to 27 per cent. Now, that is really “free fall”.
There is, however, no guarantee the Green Party will continue to escape blame for the economic mess. But it was not in government when foundations for the property bust were laid. And it is attempting within limited areas of responsibility to introduce reform. It is untrue to suggest these changes would have been imposed by the European Union. Planning and building standards have been revised; renewable energy sources promoted and developed; there is a tax on holiday homes and high car emissions come with a cost. A carbon tax has also been promised.
When the Green Party entered Government it was wanted, but not needed, by Fianna Fáil. Now that the Progressive Democrats have gone out of business, the situation has altered. Fianna Fáil Ministers floundered in recent months as revenues dried up. But Green Party Ministers appeared to know what they wished to achieve. And, in certain instances, circumstances conspired to help them. Five years ago, the party lost two European Parliament seats and did poorly in local elections because it failed to convince voters of its relevance. On this occasion, an obvious approach would be to demonstrate its transforming role in government while putting distance between itself and Fianna Fáil. That will be difficult with the tough decisions that lie ahead