Gormley defends time in government

Green Party leader John Gormley has defended his party’s decision to enter into a coalition government with Fianna Fáil after the last election.

Mr Gormley said that despite having “huge reservations” at the time, the party “felt it was the best way of ensuring that we could implement our policies”.

During a question and answer session on RTÉ's Today with Pat Kenny this morning, the Green Party leader criticised the other three main political parties for taking corporate donations, saying they have had a "very corrosive effect" on Irish politics.

“If you look at the amount of money the parties are getting, they are spending about €5 million between the three main parties on this election and you don’t know where they are getting the money," he said.

Defending his party’s time in government Mr Gormley said it had introduced “ground-breaking” pieces of legislation such as the planning act. “[That] means now we will not get the corrupt overzoning that we have seen over the years.”

Adding that it was too early to say if the party would form part of a future government after the election, Mr Gormley gave a commitment to protect carers in society. "Carers have to be respected, we have to ensure that they are adequately remunerated and I would give a commitment that will be kept under review so that the benefits that the State actually receives from actions of carers would be a priority,” he said.

This afternoon, the party published its social policy plan, in which it promised to shelter society’s most vulnerable from cuts. It pledged that if re-elected, it would not make any cuts to basic social welfare rates or the State pension and would extend childcare schemes. It would also create refundable tax credits for the low paid and part-time workers.

Deputy leader Mary White said the pursuit of social justice has
always been central to the Green Party's guiding principles. "In government, we fought to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society," said the former junior minister for equality.