Comments on: Europe 2009 – Irish results

By: Stewart J

Stewart J — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:00:45 +0000

Stephen L’s response of course exemplifies the problem of entering Govt with a second choice party and maybe getting some of your agenda implemented, or staying out of Govt (maybe bringing on an early election AND being blamed for it) and achieving nothing. This is the inevitable problem of being a minor (left) party with supporters and members further to the left of the leadership/MP’s. As it happens, the GFC is something that had been warned about, but as these things go I can imagine that the temptation of being able to get some of your policies initiated would have been a stronger lure (and might even have been seen as possibly the only chance for quite some time).

By: Stephen L

Stephen L — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 06:55:45 +0000

Being in government with a conservative party at this time was always going to be tough for the Greens, but it was even tougher because most of their supporters wanted them to be in government with Fine Gail, not Fianna Fail. The Greens MPs wanted this as well, and thought they would be able to achieve it, but the way the numbers panned out it just wasn’t an option. At the time it seemed like a good idea to go into government with Fianna Fail, and I would have supported it, albeit reluctantly. But the global financial crisis made it the worst possible timing for such a decision, and the Greens will pay for it for a long time. Pulling out now might help, but the most important thing is to hold as much of the party together as possible behind whatever decision is made – they only chance of recovery is to at least retain a substantial membership who understands it wasn’t so much bad decisions as bad luck that got them here.

By: Stewart J

Stewart J — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:18:38 +0000

And while we’re here, if Ganley only got 10.5% perhaps we could find out where the votes DID go?

By: Justin-Paul Sammons

Justin-Paul Sammons — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:47:27 +0000

If the EU didn’t have their silly rules requiring countries to hold their results until Sunday evening, we wouldn’t have to speculate like this.

By: Ben Raue

Ben Raue — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:41:07 +0000

I was simply reporting what Newstalk.ie was reporting.

By: Pat Cooper

Pat Cooper — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:01:32 +0000

I am here in Sligo on the tally.
Ganley got 10.5% on the tally.
Stop spreading blatant untruths

By: Simon Copland

Simon Copland — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:19:19 +0000

I think the Greens will be completely wiped out unless they pull out here. They need to go back to the principles that the Greens are known for and fight for those and it is the only way they will survive.

By: Charles in Germany

Charles in Germany — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:36:55 +0000

I agree Oz, I would hope they did pull out because they would indeed have nothing to lose by doing so, yet I fear Sergeant, Gormley, White, Cuff et al are far too honourable to do so – especially Sergeant.

By: Oz

Oz — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:28:38 +0000

Stewart J : is being in Govt worth the pain?

No. The government and coalition arrangement has been tenuous for a while, but they never really had a legitimate reason to pull out without looking like opportunists. At this point it doesn't matter. They're on the brink of being annihilated if there's a general election. If they ever want to be in government again, or even exist as a political party with parliamentary representation they should resign from government.

By: Stewart J

Stewart J — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:13:00 +0000

I’m also not entirely surprised at the lack of success of the Greens. being in a conservative government in times of economic crisis wouldn’t seem to auger well to a left-of-centre party like the Greens. And the two old parties (FG & FF) are both quite conservative – is being in Govt worth the pain?