The Greens have not lost their moral compass ; they have buried it

galway | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Saturday February 13, 2010 11:45 by donkylemore

We need a '' Green Garrowen''- and let them run the ball at their detractors

If Ms de Burca's allegations are to be believed as written her unbridled personal column in today's Irish Times, it would seem that not only have the Greens lost their moral compass ; they have buried it under a host of erstwhile worthy principles.
In these circumstances t'would be well were the Green's to bury this current arrangement of their party system and try to reform themselves rigorously before they attempt to resurrect themselves , with any credibility.

Ms de Burca's departure from Irish politics is disquieting on a number of levels. There were obvious fault lines becoming more manifest over the past weeks between she and her Party leader Minister Gormley . A quake was imminent as the tectonic plates of their individual personnae floated unhappily on a lava on discontent , and drifted inexorable towards collision.

She reveals much about this growing discontent bordering on open enmity with Mr Gormley in her very revealing and personal column in today's Irish Times
On the night of the government bank guarantee Mr Gormley is alleged to have been unavailable, asleep and uncontactable , if we are to believe some , and requiring a Grada to climb into his house to alert the Minister to the fact that he was urgently required in the Dept of Finance HQ . These allegations may be apocryphal , nonetheless Mr Gormley's personal ambiance somehow lacks the robust vigor of say General Mc Arthur; Minister Gormley's personna is more reminiscent St Francis of Assisi,albeit uncanonised and without consummated sainthood .- maybe the sandles is the only common denominator.
In this situation as in many more which were to follow he was the rabbit caught in the head-lamps.He has fudged when he could have been assertive ; timid when he should have been bold ; meek when he should have been dogmatic
He has undoubtedly compromised the very essence of Green ethos from tara to Waste management . .He bungled at every juncture from the financial crisis to the tara Skryne / motorway - to waste management.
In this unsavoury milieu Ms de Burca's resignation was an act of self sacrifice and even one of nobility. But if there other less altruistic personal reasons for her departure then her action would have to be viewed through a different prism and with different colored spectacles.
While Ms de Burca comes across as a committed politician , motivated from a a sense of the urgent, if not passionate need to change Irish Politics , there are undercurrents muddying the waters concerning her rejection by Ms Goeghegan -Quinn as part of Ms Quinn's Cabinee in Brussels .
This would of course be much less an edifying reason for her departure and one sincerely hopes that it is not her singular reason for her departure.But perhaps Ms de Burca genuinely believed that should would best serve her constituents and adhere more fervently to her own political values by serving in Brussels than in Dublin .
In this regard , it would appear that Ms de Burca's enunciated values were unacceptable to those espoused by Ms Goeghegan - Quinn. There would have been unreconciled conflicts in many areas from GM foods to energy and waste disposal issues .
The alliance would have been an unhappy one . It was doomed to an early divorce.

Ms de Burca has raised many important questions about the Green party.What do they stand for now; what is the Green Agenda ; when did we see any nuance of this agenda ; are the party remaining in power for the sake of power over principle at whatever cost.?
If Ms de Burca's allegations are to be believed as written in her unbridled personal column today', it would seem that not only have the Greens lost their moral compass ; they have consciously and willfully buried it all under a host of erstwhile worthy principles and ethical values.
In these circumstances t'would be well were the Green's to bury this current arrangement of their party system and try to reform themselves rigorously before they attempt to resurrect themselves , with any credibility.
Her pleasant and gracious demeanor will be much missed in Irish Politics.
She had to go. But whither now the Green party . Are they holed below the water line just about bailing the boat out to keep afloat with all their energy devoted to this task , thereby debilitating them from devoting any time to their main purpose , whatever that is at present .
The electorate have a right to know. It is insuffecient to hold together as in a rigby maul. We are all part of the management team who fielded them.
They need to look look less towards this huddle of cohesion and solidarity which is really ungracious , demeaning and dishonest. They should look out at the stunned and hushed stadium , and make the bold decision that we hope the Irish rugby team will do today in Paris .
Lets have - A Green'' Garryowen '' now and let the Green Party run boldly at their detractors