Gormley bullish on election prospects

Green Party leader John Gormley this morning said he is “not contemplating any incineration” of his party in the upcoming general election.

Launching the party's campaign in the Sugar Club in Dublin, Mr Gormley said it would be a “very tough” election for party candidates but predicted the six TDs would be returned and gains would be made.

He said the Greens would be fighting for the last seat in nine constituencies.

"I am not contemplating any incineration or otherwise of the Green Party. We are going to fight this election all the way, each of us in our own constituencies."

Mr Gormley said he did not accept that a Fine Gael-Labour government was the only possible outcome of the election. "The outcome is still far from certain," he said.

He predicted "a clash of egos as well as a clash of policies" between Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

A "unilateral re-negotiation" of the IMF-EU bailout deal "just isn't on the cards", he insisted. He said the party's "record of delivery" stood up.