Greens angry over Kenny comment

The Green Party has reacted angrily to comments made by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny over a proposed invitation to participate in a rainbow coalition.

In an interview in today's Irish Times, Mr Kenny said that his party would approach the Green Party to join a rainbow alliance if Fine Gael and Labour had 79 or 80 seats and required a small number of extra votes to form a government.

However, the Green Party's education spokesperson Paul Gogarty said this morning that Fine Gael was continuing to play "pretend opposition" and needed to start focusing on policies if it was really serious about negotiating for Government after the election. Green Party leader Trevor Sargent was also quick to dismiss talk of any pre-election pact.

Mr Gogarty said: "I find his attitude more than a little patronising. His statement is aimed at boosting his party's flagging performance by painting us as the desperate junior partner lucky to be in Government with an all-conquering Fine Gael."

"He should go back to his spin doctors and number crunchers for a second opinion. It is plain as day that he will never be Taoiseach without Green support."

Mr Gogarty also attacked Fine Gael's approach to tackling a number of issues including climate change, housing, transport, education and planning.

"Fine Gael continue to play pretend opposition. Their message is that they will do exactly the same as the current Government, only better. I believe the electorate deserve more than the politics of Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee. Public representatives need to think bigger and put forward a real vision," stated Gogarty.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent was also quick to dismiss talk of any pre-election pact.

"We are not focusing on pre-election arrangements of any hue. Our party's stated position is that we will rule neither in nor out any potential configuration of parties that could bring the Greens into Government and allow us to best progress our policies," said Sargent.

"We are happy that so many of our colleagues in the Dáil are beginning to understand just how rational and essential the Green agenda is. They do however have a long way to go and as more and more people are convinced that the Green Party has the best solutions to many of the problems that we face now and will face in years to come, we are confident of a bright and growing future."