Minister's remarks incense Greens

The Green Party was sharply attacked by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue in the Dáil last night.

During the resumed debate on the party's motion, critical of corruption in local government, Mr O'Donoghue said the Government had introduced a most comprehensive package of reforms to ensure probity in public office.

He said the motion was "sponsored by the bicycled tut-tutters and windmill blowers of the Green Party, who have built a number of political careers by constructing the illusion that Utopia awaits you if you grow enough carrots, pull enough turnips and eat enough lettuce".

The Green Party had opposed every economic initiative undertaken by the Government, he said. The Minister's remarks provoked outrage from the Green Party benches, with John Gormley (Dublin South East) remarking: "You are a disgrace . . . You are a sewer rat."

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said that people were travelling long distances to work because of bad planning.

"We are the most car-dependent people in the world." When the cost of the tribunal was added on, it meant that the taxpayer was being hit at every turn.

"It is the taxpayer that is being punished, not the corrupt politicians."

Paddy McHugh (Independent, Galway East) said that members of Fianna Fail, the PDs, Fine Gael and Labour had all admitted to accepting money from people who subsequently found themselves under investigation. This represented a "damning indictment" of all those political parties who at one time or another formed the government of the country.