PDs should end this tiresome charade
Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman
Time for public funding of political parties
“The continuing ‘negotiations’ between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste are boring the electorate to tears. The attitude of many people, with whom I spoke to in Minister McDowell’s own constituency yesterday, is that the PDs should make a decision one way or the other. Having had a tiff and trial separation for a day, the PDs must decide if they are in or out of the marriage bed. It really is time, for the sake of the country, to end this tiresome charade. Surely, the Tánaiste has all the facts he needs at his disposal or is he merely trying to agree ways of explaining these facts? The Taoiseach himself has indicated that there will be many more revelations. The Tánaiste, on the other hand, has not resigned himself to this fate and is beset by indecision.
“In light of all that has happened, is it not time to consider the proposals of the Green Party to clean up politics. Today, the former Taoiseach, Garrett Fitzgerald has also advocated proper public funding of political parties. We believe that in parallel with this there must be limits on spending not just at election time but between elections and a complete ban on corporate donations. The Green Party already has such a ban in place and we call on other parties to follow suit.
“If nothing is learned from this latest crisis then the problems associated with the funding of politics and politicians will continue.”