De Búrca resigns from Greens, Seanad

Maebh

Deirdre De Búrca has gone and resigned from the Greens, her letter of resignation is great:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0212/deburcadstatement.html

"It would appear that holding onto office and to seats have become more important to the party than holding on to its fundamental political purpose. We have lost our way as a party and I am sad to say that it has reached a point where I, and most of the people I know, will be unable to vote Green in the next election."

What do people think? Personally, I think she's said a lot that needed saying...

Laminations

Deirdre de burca quits the greens saying that they are FF lapdogs

rte.ie/news/2010/0212/deburcab.html

Sleepy

Fair play to her. Shame her position wasn't of enough consequence to make the gesture worth a damn.

mike65

Death by a 1000 cuts, and its not like the party will be overwhelmed by fresh talent for the next elections.

Laminations

I think she has very valid reasons for leaving. This should be a biggier story than George Lee and should make the Greens really think about what they are still doing in government

Macha

Not unexpected. She didn't get the job she wanted with MGQ in Brussels.

What is it with stroppy politicians this week?

BennyBlanko

Laminations wrote: »

Deirdre de burca quits the greens saying that they are FF lapdogs

rte.ie/news/2010/0212/deburcab.html

There seems to be an air of honesty in Leinster House these days........first Lee telling it as it is @ FG and now DeBurca telling it as it is at the Greens.:)

Seth Brundle

One wonders whether she would have quit had she gotten the post in Maire Goeghan Quinn's cabinet as DDB had been reporting before Christmas (but as it turned out this wasn't the case).

Edit: beaten to point

johngalway

BennyBlanko wrote: »

There seems to be an air of honesty in Leinster House these days........first Lee telling it as it is @ FG

That's a stretch. He didn't have what it took to do the job. But that's off topic so I'll leave it at that.

johngalway

Seems they didn't get their shots before getting in bed with FF More loyal to FF Govt that some FF back benchers, love it

Laminations

Can we merge this into meabhs thread. Thanks

Red_Marauder

Can this possibly be a strop about the MGQ job? I have to say I do think she has more political integrity than others in the GP. It seems to be careless timing on her part if it isn't anything to do with the Quinn job, it doesn't look particularly good.

My initial reaction was of relief that this will take some of the media heat off Fine Gael for a while.

Expect to see George Lee handcuffing himself to a Shell To Sea Barricade trying to top this piece of attention deflection.

IrishTonyO

At last, one of the Green Party has done what the whole party should. They have sold their principles for power in government and have betrayed anyone who voted for them in the last election. At least they won't have this problem again as I doubt they will ever get enough votes again. No maybe Paul Gogarty and the like might start to realise they are on the deck of a sinking ship, which they have caused by a lack of backbone and principles.
Well done Deirdre and congratulations on your honesty.

Macha

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Can this possibly be a strop about the MGQ job? I have to say I do think she has more political integrity than others in the GP. It seems to be careless timing on her part if it isn't anything to do with the Quinn job, it doesn't look particularly good.

Why does a politician that quits suddenly have so much integrity? The assumption for this logic is that standing politicians have no integrity. Do you think de Burca would be resigining now if she had won a seat in 2007? Not a chance.

Red_Marauder wrote: »

My initial reaction was of relief that this will take some of the media heat off Fine Gael for a while.

I really don't think Lee's departure has damaged Fine Gael that much. It says more about Lee than anyone else. The complaints about Kenny as leader are louder now but they have always been there.

LostinBlanch

What's that Yank saying? A day late, and a dollar short.

Too little, too late.

If she really meant to show some integrity why didn't she come out and say this when they were pushing the vote to stay in government and support ramming NAMA through? But no, she didn't. There was very little dissent then when they pushed through the vote to support FF in defrauding future generations purely to support developers and FF cronies!

I would be very interested to know what exactly changed since then and now?

Mind you, she has nailed it on the head with the statement about hanging onto power at all costs. Still, at this stage it doesn't look like there's anyone left in the party who gives a flying fúck.

Oh and I see Gogarty is at it again, calling non Irish dregs.

What a wonderful person, a true representative of his party.

Red_Marauder

taconnol wrote: »

Why does a politician that quits suddenly have so much integrity? The assumption for this logic is that standing politicians have no integrity. Do you think de Burca would be resigining now if she had won a seat in 2007? Not a chance.

Why do you assume I'm talking about quitting? Isn't it likely that posters here are aware of her political history and basing our judgements on that?

I'm talking about her integrity in politics. Most people who are aware of her career (particularly at council level) will agree that she has personal integrity, party politics aside. She was the bane of some councillor's lives on Wicklow County Council with regard to rezoning and planning debates.

Macha

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Why do you assume I'm talking about quitting? Isn't it likely that posters here are aware of her political history and basing our judgements on that?

Perhaps but judging from the discussion here and on Politics.ie both of this and past resignations, as soon as a politician quits they are suddenly a beacon of honest and integrity.

de Burca has regularly been referred to as 'unelectable' among other choice adjectives - until now.

IrishTonyO

taconnol wrote: »

Perhaps but judging from the discussion here and on Politics.ie both of this and past resignations, as soon as a politician quits they are suddenly a beacon of honest and integrity.

Well they are 'a beacon of honesty and integrity' compared to the ones who are still clinging on to power by their fingernails, despite it costing them their soul.

Macha

IrishTonyO wrote: »

Well they are 'a beacon of honesty and integrity' compared to the ones who are still clinging on to power by their fingernails, despite it costing them their soul.

...and there's the assumption I was referring to earlier.

paddyland

I would have thought it very important that any government of any party, would have an element of genuine green agenda, if only to keep in check the more wasteful and thoughtless splurges of typical government policy.

John Gormley's sole contribution to Green politics in this country has been to assure the complete annihilation of the Green vote for at least a generation to come. I don't think any party leader has ever been so destructive of his own party, given that every other party leader is hell bent on preserving their party agendas.

There is only one contribution left for him to make now, and that is to pull down this wretched government. The Green Party at this point contributes nothing only complete failure. Half his own party recognise this.

IrishTonyO

taconnol wrote: »

...and there's the assumption I was referring to earlier.

Not really, only in the case of the Green Party since they entered government and sold their souls. They stand for nothing any more and have no moral or other highground to stand on, as a result of this.

Red_Marauder

taconnol wrote: »

de Burca has regularly been referred to as 'unelectable' among other choice adjectives - until now.

Well she doesn't make life easy for herself. She is the Lady Macbeth of the Green party, her ambition frequently overrides her common sense. She displays an arrogance to the voting public (in particular a certain disrespect for electoral boundaries) that although unintended, has always rendered her political future rather questionable.

But I don't think her political integrity can come into any serious question.

LostinBlanch

So the Greens rolled out Paul Gogarty on Pat Kenny. I wonder did he roll around on the floor while doing the interview?

Also Eamon Ryan is silent, why is this? they usually roll him out when they want someone to spin the party line no matter what the facts.

We'll see what happens now with Boyle after his I'm going to resignpanto charade.

Oh no you're not.

Oh yes I am

Oh no you're not.

Oh no I'm not.

Macha

Red_Marauder wrote: »

But I don't think her political integrity can come into any serious question.

Oh I'm not saying that she doesn't have political integrity (although, again, I could not see her resigning if she had been elected in 2007). I'm simply saying that a politician's resignations seems to be all that is required for them to have integrity, according to the public.

Look at George Lee - I think he was naive and disillusioned. His resignation shows no political integrity yet in radio polls, most people seem to think he's wonderful altogether and did the right thing.

paddyland

Maybe personal integrity is more important than political integrity.

IrishTonyO

The Green party has responded but this part interests me

“In recent months we have introduced civil partnerships legislation, a levy on carbon and a major programme of political reform, including a directly elected mayor for Dublin this year. Our policies have created tens of thousands of new, valuable jobs.”

What tens of thousands of jobs? Anyone know?

Macha

IrishTonyO wrote: »

“In recent months we have introduced civil partnerships legislation, a levy on carbon and a major programme of political reform, including a directly elected mayor for Dublin this year. Our policies have created tens of thousands of new, valuable jobs.”

What tens of thousands of jobs? Anyone know?

Yes. This discussion has happened already a few times on boards. Thousands of jobs and €millions of investment have been announced over the past year in the environmental goods and services sector in Ireland.

Red_Marauder

paddyland wrote: »

Maybe personal integrity is more important than political integrity.

In Deirdre de Búrca's case, what do you see as being the difference?

Biggins

Laminations wrote: »

Deirdre de burca quits the greens saying that they are FF lapdogs

Well a lot of folk think that too including myself.
Woof Woof Greens...

bmaxi

Biggins wrote: »

Well a lot of folk think that too including myself.
Woof Woof Greens...

You'd be hard pushed to find anyone who doesn't think that but I have to agree with other posters, it's pique rather than anything else that's behind these two resignations. Given her track record, does de Burca know where she belongs anyway?

Trotter

IrishTonyO wrote: »

..maybe Paul Gogarty and the like might start to realise they are on the deck of a sinking ship, which they have caused by a lack of backbone and principles.

Gogarty threw a hissy fit yesterday when none of the Fianna Fáil TDs turned up at the education committee meeting with principals of national schools trying to inform the committee about the challenges of multi ethnic education.

The irony is, its his own party's lack of any ethics and guts that has those FF TDs being that comfortable that they could ignore the meeting.

Fair play to Ms De Burca. Getting rid of this government will be impossible without people who call it as it is.

Biggins

Green Party Junior Minister Trevor Sargent said he was very disappointed by Ms de Búrca's resignation, but he said her criticisms of the party leader 'didn't ring true' and were 'very unfair'.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0212/deburcab.html

Dear Trevor, what planet are you actually living on?
Your talking schite!

Many of her points in her full statement ring very, very true and close to the core of truth.
Sorry to see you can't see that but those rose tinted glasses you seem to be wearing are blinding you - or is it just the PR spin your already trying to put on things!
I suspect its a bit of both.

See ye all at the next election.

Annasopra

Maebh wrote: »

Deirdre De Búrca has gone and resigned from the Greens,

What do people think? Personally, I think she's said a lot that needed saying...

I think that the Media have jumped the gun in reporting she has left the greens - her statement mentions the parliamentary party - It is not clear if she has resigned from the party

ToadVine

Biggins wrote: »

Dear Trevor, what planet are you actually living on?

He's living on Planet Bertie now with Gormley, Boyle and Ryan. They all moved there in 2007 ...

Biggins

Johnnymcg wrote: »

I think that the Media have jumped the gun in reporting she has left the greens - her statement mentions the parliamentary party - It is not clear if she has resigned from the party

I suspect she has decided to make a clean break - it remains to be seen.
After her clear sharp direct words to the clowns in power, I also suspect she wouldn't be allowed to remain anyway and she'd guess that.

De Búrca, if you decide to set-up an alternative green org' or political party, let us know!
You might find a hell of a lot wishing to join you.

Scofflaw

Biggins wrote: »

I suspect she has decided to make a clean break - it remains to be seen.
After her clear sharp direct words to the clowns in power, I also suspect she wouldn't be allowed to remain anyway and she'd guess that.

De Búrca, if you decide to set-up an alternative green org' or political party, let us know!
You might find a hell of a lot wishing to join you.

It's interesting that for all the complaints, and the definite exodus of a particular segment of the party's support, there still seems to be no such thing.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Biggins

Scofflaw wrote: »

It's interesting that for all the complaints, and the definite exodus of a particular segment of the party's support, there still seems to be no such thing.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Sadly very true.
I live in hope that one will emerge.

Macha

Scofflaw wrote: »

It's interesting that for all the complaints, and the definite exodus of a particular segment of the party's support, there still seems to be no such thing.

I also think it's interesting to note what de Burca said about Patricia McKenna's departure from the Green Party:

The pity about Patricia McKenna's move is that she did not do it at least a year ago and spare herself and her party colleagues a lot of time-wasting and strife. It has been increasingly clear that she does not share the same views on many issues with Green Party members.

LostinBlanch

IrishTonyO wrote: »

What tens of thousands of jobs? Anyone know?

Well . . . . eh . . . . Gormley appointed 3 GP members as political advisers at €161,000 and two at €82,016.

Elizabeth Davis a GP member who didn't win any elections gets paid €40,000 to watch films.

And Eamon Ryan appointed Garret Blaney to a plum post in the Commission of Energy Regulation after a very stringent application process open to all candidates "unsolicited" phone call.

Then there's those paragon of electoral success Dan Boyle, Niall O'Brollchain and the now gone DDB. But that post'll probably go to another party hack. Probably their only electoral success in the local elections Mark Deary who got voted onto the council in Louth. But wait, he's already chairman of the Library Council which is only worth €5,000 a year but it all adds up right?

Two other councillors have also been appointed to the Private Residential Tenancies Board, Vincent P Martin who lost his seat on Monaghan County Council and Gene Feighery who was co-opted onto Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council but never actually won an election.Both are getting €25,000 for that.

Former GP seanad candidate Martin Hogan has been appointed to the board of Fás and gets €12,000 pocket money for that.

Then there's Stiofan Nutty who's Trevor Sargents political adviser who has been appointed to An Foras Organach the Organic Food agency which was set up by . . . erm . . . . Trevor Sargent.

Caroline Burrell, who also lost her seat at the last election, has popped up on the board of the National Disability Authority.

So by my counting that's 14 Green jobs created right there.

Still it's always good to see the Greens staying true to their word and opposing "crass cronyism" and "jobs for the boys" like Dan Boyle did when he put forward a private members bill in the seanad proposing giving Dáil Committees the power to vet state board appointments. But wait, both he and DDB voted against it, when it was reintroduced by the opposition last October. It was defeated by 23 votes to 25.

Darsad

Biggins wrote: »

I
De Búrca, if you decide to set-up an alternative green org' or political party, let us know!
You might find a hell of a lot wishing to join you.

Divide and conquer eh ! I hope not there is still enough of these loonies left to bring this country further into the mire anyways I doubt she
would ever go before the electorate again after been consistently and roundly rejected .
In saying that as much as I detest the greens I have some admiration for somebody prepared to walk away from a cushie well paid number !

Our man in Havana

It won't matter as she was a Taoiseachs nominee. She will be simply be replaced with a FF lapdog.

Poly

Anyone see the 6pm news? very funny, when asked by a reproter, the greens clouldn't even agree if they met on a daily basis.

You know your greens have gone off when Paul "F*&k you" Gogarty is being presented for camera fodder.

Eamon Ryan probably had remote control electrodes on Gogarty's balls in case he went on a solo run.

IrishTonyO

Poly wrote: »

Anyone see the 6pm news? very funny, when asked by a reproter, the greens clouldn't even agree if they met on a daily basis.

You know your greens have gone off when Paul "F*&k you" Gogarty is being presented for camera fodder.

Eamon Ryan probably had remote control electrodes on Gogarty's balls in case he went on a solo run.

Yes seems all the other Greens meet everyday but not Cuffe, wonder is there something they are not telling him

Biggins

Poly wrote: »

Anyone see the 6pm news?

I loved the way Gormley was stating to the camera about policies that had been initiated since their last important RDS vote (to stay in government).
One of the reporters tried to ask quickly what they actually were but was quickly talked over!
So Mr Gormley, what is those recent policies?
Care to list them - or is your statement just thrown out there also as PR spin after ye got slapped in the face with some real home truths?

Pyridine

Saw the Green mob on the six-one news. When they were interviewing Paul Gogarty all I could think was "F**k you Deirdre De Búrca, F**k you!!" for some reason!!

Poly

Who will be next to jump ship?

My money is on Ryan defecting to FF

FINGAL FAN

I can see Eamonn Ryan and Dan Boyle in FF before the next election . The GP faces wipeout and these two strike me as as having more ambition then principal -ideal for FF .

Poly

"John, you can keep the fcukin Prius, I'm getting a 5 litre Petrol Merc."


P.S. I've always loved back yard burning!

Sand

@Taconol

I also think it's interesting to note what de Burca said about Patricia McKenna's departure from the Green Party:

Quote:
The pity about Patricia McKenna's move is that she did not do it at least a year ago and spare herself and her party colleagues a lot of time-wasting and strife. It has been increasingly clear that she does not share the same views on many issues with Green Party members.

I think the most interesting thing about that is that the stalwart Green loyalists criticising the last Green to see the light and jump ship are prime candidates to be the next one to do so.

The Greens are doomed. Utterly terrified of facing the electorate. They are hanging in by their fingernails to any semblance of power, for powers sake alone. They could have taken a principled stance over NAMA but instead they sold out the country for the price of a few bicycle paths that will never be delivered. Fianna Fail now know that the Greens are more terrified of an election than they are so they can do whatever they like with little more than a murmur of protest from the Greens.

ChocolateSauce

My opinion of her has gone way up recently.

During the runup to Lisbon 1 I got something in the door from her office which was anti-Lisbon for all the now debunked reasons such as Neutrality/concription yadayadayada, so I emailed her pointing out that she was "either a liar and a hypocrite or completely ignorant of the most important political issue of the day". (I think I may have hurt her feelings, because the reply was hastily written and lacked composure.)


Anyway, before Lisbon 2 I attended a huge debate in UCD (aired on TV, I think) about Lisbon and she was up there making a very compelling speech for the yes side.

And now she does this? She sounds like a woman who can stick to her principles and can also change her opinion when she realises she was wrong, something most politicians won't do.

Sand

There is definitly something to be said for having the ability to step back, rethink and maybe reach a different decision in light of new information. A certain mix of humility and common sense is required for that. Both of which are more compelling than the bull headed way Fianna Fail TDs approach issues.