Greens say they will not pull out of Government

GREEN PARTY backbencher Paul Gogarty said his party would not be pulling out of Government or climbing down on the education cuts. "We remain committed to working within the Government to effect positive change," he said. "There have been some positive indications in recent days."

Mr Gogarty, who had previously expressed concern about the cutbacks, endorsed the stand taken by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe. He was speaking yesterday during the resumed debate on the Labour Private Members' motion calling for the reversal of the cutbacks.

The Government won a number of divisions relating to the motion, beginning with an electronic vote when it had a margin of 79 votes to 74. In the traditional vote, where TDs walk through the lobby, the Government won by 80 votes to 74. The PDs and Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae supported the Government.

Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Independents Tony Gregory, Joe Behan and Finian McGrath supported the Labour motion.

Mr Gogarty said that the matter related to economic and social wellbeing and also to children. "I am happy that the Labour party is fulfilling its obligations as a party of Opposition," he said.

"The Green Party is also fulfilling its obligations as a party in Government. That is why I am satisfied to stand over the Government amendment which the Green Party played its role in framing," he added.

He said that the Government amendment contained a commitment to address the cutbacks at the earliest possible opportunity.

"The Green Party is fully engaged in that policy. I concur with all members that a response is definitely required," he said.

"However, I also understand that such a response will come at the appropriate time."

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Éamon Ryan said there was an increase in expenditure of €300 million rather than a real cut in education. "However, the reality is that the wage bill and the increasing number of students coming into the system required the Minister for Education and the Government to collectively agree a series of measures which would allow him operate within that budget," he added.

Mr Ryan said that there were simple examples that did not help the teachers in their case. There was inflexibility in the context of an inability to move from one school to another without one's rights being lost.

There was also an inability to move staff from a school where there was an excess of teachers to one where there was a shortage. "In this moment of real crisis and change, we must alter the way we operate," he added. "We must be innovative and efficient in education and every other sector of society."

Labour leader Éamon Gilmore accused Mr Ryan of giving "a precious little homily" about how teachers should be more flexible and change the way they did things. "I am not angry at the Green Party, I am just sad about it," he said. "I heard the contributions from Minister Ryan and Deputy Paul Gogarty. I saw a party that is just beaten."

Mr Gilmore said they were all political practitioners and understood that politics involved compromise, and that there could sometimes be a degree of grandstanding. "Politics, however, also means standing for something," he added.