Did the Green Party break their pre election promises

IrishTonyO

I am just curious to know whether people think the Green Party have broken the majority of their pre election promises now that they are in power.

P. Breathnach

IrishTonyO wrote: »

I am just curious to know whether people think the Green Party have broken the majority of their pre election promises now that they are in power.

No. They failed to deliver on most of them, which is not the same thing. They failed to deliver because they got only a small share of the power in a coalition and because of the economic tsunami that hit us.

They achieved a small bit more than they might have achieved had they gone into opposition.

IrishTonyO

I understand they failed to deliver on most, but what about the broken ones, things like the motorway in Tara, Incinerator etc.

Macha

P. Breathnach wrote: »

They achieved a small bit more than they might have achieved had they gone into opposition.

I'm interested to know what you mean by "a small bit".

gandalf

IrishTonyO wrote: »

I understand they failed to deliver on most, but what about the broken ones, things like the motorway in Tara, Incinerator etc.

Can you list the promises that you feel they broke maybe?

Agent Smith

deadtiger wrote: »

Can you list the promises that you feel they broke maybe?

Incinerator springs to mind

IrishTonyO

deadtiger wrote: »

Can you list the promises that you feel they broke maybe?

Listed these in a different thread recently but will list the ones I have here again.

Some pre elections promised made by the Green Party prior to the election, and this is by no means a complete list merely a brief summary

(1)Green Party highlighted the need to remove Fianna Fail from Government and how it wanted an alternative Government excluding Fianna Fail.

They not only did not remove them they enabled them to remain in power

(2) Promised over 2,400 extra teachers in primary and secondary education

Voted for cuts in the number of teachers

(3)Promised 400 acute hospital beds and 400 step down beds

Cut the hospitals budgets massively

(4) Expand the medical card

They tried to take it away from some the over 70's

(5) Make major investments in Quality Bus Corridors and introduce frequent commuter routes

Cuts in funding again, Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann reducing routes by c. 10%

(6) Opposed the motorway going through the Tara

Have let it go ahead and not mentioned in case anyone noticed

(7) Would oppose a re-running of the Lisbon Treaty

Party leaders campaigned for it

(8) Increase the number of Gardai on the streets

Numbers are down

(9) Would not go into government with Fianna Fail (well TS would not 'lead' the party into government

Didn't stop him standing down as leader and taking a Junior ministry

nesf

Agent Smith wrote: »

Incinerator springs to mind

Did they not say that they would oppose it? If so, then they fulfilled the promise, they have opposed it etc.

IrishTonyO

nesf wrote: »

Did they not say that they would oppose it? If so, then they fulfilled the promise, they have opposed it etc.

Have opposed it in voice and voted for it with the government, I normally judge people etc by their actions not their words. I can understand compromise etc., but when the compromises go against your core principles and values, are they worth it?

nesf

IrishTonyO wrote: »

Have opposed it in voice and voted for it with the government, I normally judge people etc by their actions not their words

There wasn't any Dáil vote for the Incinerator.

IrishTonyO

nesf wrote: »

There wasn't any Dáil vote for the Incinerator.

Sorry I thought the cabinet had approved the incinerator

nesf

IrishTonyO wrote: »

Sorry I thought the cabinet had approved the incinerator

It's a local council issue not a national one etc.

Biggins

Just a few extra details:

(1)Green Party highlighted the need to remove Fianna Fail from Government and how it wanted an alternative Government excluding Fianna Fail.

They not only did not remove them they enabled them to remain in power

(2) Promised over 2,400 extra teachers in primary and secondary education

Voted for cuts in the number of teachers

(3)Promised 400 acute hospital beds and 400 step down beds.

Help allow the closure of Crumlins Childrens services, wards and reduces operation numbers.


They VOTED in the Dail to refuse vital money needed to keep such services going saying the money could not be found (Two day debate - I WAS THERE) - yet one week later found the same amount of money for a bike track in Dublin!
The newspaper write-up for the media - which was printed - can be found HERE
Cut the hospitals budgets massively

(4) Expand the medical card

They tried to take it away from some the over 70's

(5) Make major investments in Quality Bus Corridors and introduce frequent commuter routes

Cuts in funding again, Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann reducing routes by c. 10%

(6) Opposed the motorway going through the Tara

Have let it go ahead and not mentioned in case anyone noticed

(7) Would oppose a re-running of the Lisbon Treaty

Party leaders campaigned for it

(8) Increase the number of Gardai on the streets

Numbers are down

The cuts...


(9) Would not go into government with Fianna Fail (well TS would not 'lead' the party into government

Didn't stop him standing down as leader and taking a Junior ministry

IrishTonyO

nesf wrote: »

It's a local council issue not a national one etc.

I thought the cabinet, including Gormley gave the go-ahead for the building.

Last week, Dublin city manager John Tierney said there had been no change to waste management policy since Mr Gormley took office.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cabinet-backs-gormley-over-incinerator-row-2055683.html

nesf

IrishTonyO wrote: »

I thought the cabinet, including Gormley gave the go-ahead for the building.

Last week, Dublin city manager John Tierney said there had been no change to waste management policy since Mr Gormley took office.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cabinet-backs-gormley-over-incinerator-row-2055683.html

That's not direct oversight of the incinerator as much as it is overall national policy on incineration. It's splitting hairs but Gormley doesn't have a direct say over whether the incinerator is built, he just gets to try and shape overall policy on the matter on a national scale which is different. He can try and make things difficult for the local council to build the plant, which he is doing, but he can't directly stop them.

Poly

I voted for them believing all this pre election bull. How stupid and naive of me.
Gormley makes my blood boil, I now hate them with a passion.

IrishTonyO

Poly wrote: »

I voted for them believing all this pre election bull. How stupid and naive of me.
I now hate them with a passion.

It was the same for me, and now I not only feel like a fool, but totally betrayed. But I won't be fooled by them again.

Red_Marauder

Of course they broke their promises. There are three very good reasons

1. They formed a government as a junior coalition partner when their support was not necesarily needed
2. There has been a serious global crash on the financial markets that has effected this economy
3. The economy is also dealing with a huge structural defecit arising largely from our own misdemeanours in public spending

Now, how could any political party keep all, or most of their promises from a time when the economy was still growing? It beggars belief that you would even think like that.

Liam Byrne

They reneged on their first 3 promises before any domestic inevitibility / worldwide crash combination.

1) We won't go into Government with FF
2) We object to the U.S. using Shannon
3) We'll protect Tara

While #3 wasn't a major priority for me, the first two were.

Combine that with their spurned opportunity to fix things by pulling out, and that's one vote they'll be missing next time around due to broken promises and bad decisions.

All I'm left with as a result are extra so-called "green" taxes.

So my apologies to anyone who has been affected by my misguided decision to trust them.

Choke

IrishTonyO wrote: »

I am just curious to know whether people think the Green Party have broken the majority of their pre election promises now that they are in power.

Given the economic crisis, I don't think any party that got into government could reasonably be held to their election promises.

Kingdom

The alarm bells started to ring when their leader, Mr Sargent, wouldn't lead them into government, but would take a Junior Ministry. That was hypocrisy of the highest order.

RogueT

Another own goal by Gormley. He has intervened in the democracy of councellors and reversed the decision to allow The Park in Carrickmines develop a District Retail Centre (its already a huge retail park with offices etc). 400+ construction jobs that could have been created with probably similar amount when the place opened. Well done John, the unemployed of the area salute you.

CJhaughey

I really cannot believe the way the Green Party is behaving, regarding the Lost at Sea scheme, the former Minister of state at the Dept of Ag Fisheries and food Mr T. Sargent rejected the ombudsmans findings regarding the administration of the Lost at Sea scheme.
This is the same T. Sargent that was making noise about the same scheme in 2006.LINK
I am lost for words, given how two faced the Green party has been and continues to be.

sflemings

It should be a very insteresting next election campaign by them. I reckon they'll nearly end up like the PD's!

CJhaughey

sflemings wrote: »

It should be a very insteresting next election campaign by them. I reckon they'll nearly end up like the PD's!

I have to admit I used to be nearly a supporter of them but given the way they have carried on in Gov't I am sickened and will actively campaign against them.
PD's dead and gone, Green Party will go the same way.
I am trying hard to think of anything constructive they have done bar put some taxes up.

maynooth_rules

Poly wrote: »

I voted for them believing all this pre election bull. How stupid and naive of me.
Gormley makes my blood boil, I now hate them with a passion.

Join the club. I cringe each time I see Mary White, and my stomach turns just thinking that I helped put her and her party where they are, and that I bought the complete and utter bull****e she sold me on my doorstep. I look forward seeing their collapse in the next election

anymore

CJhaughey wrote: »

I really cannot believe the way the Green Party is behaving, regarding the Lost at Sea scheme, the former Minister of state at the Dept of Ag Fisheries and food Mr T. Sargent rejected the ombudsmans findings regarding the administration of the Lost at Sea scheme.
This is the same T. Sargent that was making noise about the same scheme in 2006.LINK
I am lost for words, given how two faced the Green party has been and continues to be.

" Sargent said: ?When I raised concerns over Mr. Fahey?s involvement with this scheme two weeks ago in the Dáil, the Taoiseach told me to ?put up or shut up?. I said then, and I?ll say now, that Frank Fahey should not be a Government minister, and that the Taoiseach should sack him. "

jennyjest

sflemings wrote: »

It should be a very insteresting next election campaign by them. I reckon they'll nearly end up like the PD's!

No they are not like the PDs: the PDs still managed to get TDs elected after going into coalition with FF, the Greens wont !

recedite

Greens are only a minority party so have not much control over finance.
Education cuts are less than they would have been without the greens insistences.. Changes made by the greens tend to be of a long term nature,not the gimmicky headline grabbing stuff. Our electricity network is changing to allow for wind farms, electric cars,etc. When building resumes it will be zoned better (not on floodplains) and of better quality (new building regulations). All this means money stays in the economy instead of going towards fuel imports.

Traumadoc

I voted for Gormley last election, never will again.

Dublin SE will kick out a sitting minister again.

View

I think you'll find when it comes time to vote that there is actually a limited number of parties you can vote for in practise. As such, the Greens will probably pick up more 2nd and 3rd preferences as the counting continues then people expect.

Traumadoc

http://www.herald.ie/opinion/andrew-lynch-split-between-gormley-and-ryan-threatens-to-tear-greens-asunder-2095647.html

BluntGuy

The Green Party have lost all their credibility, at least to me. FF never had any to begin with, so their actions in government haven't surprised me in the least.

Things like seeing Eamon Ryan, a talented speaker whom I admired greatly, stand up in the Dail a few weeks ago, and defend the indefensible Willie O'Dea, just summed it all up for me.

They are a useless party in government, just another FF add-on accessory - like the PDs became.

And it is so heart-breaking, because our country NEEDS a green party, it needs a party with integrity, it needs a party that is socially and environmental conscious. But good lord, Gormley's Green Party are certainly not them.

They have had numerous opportunities to showcase they have integrity and some sort of honour, numerous chances to pull out, numerous chances to say "no, this isn't right". They took none. It is shocking how easily they adapted themselves to the FF culture of hypocrisy and lies, but they did, and quite magnificently at that.

Gormley is a liar. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and I accepted there would have to be significant compromise. But what the Greens have done is far beyond compromise. They have destroyed themselves... and for what?

I mean, if you're going to turn your back on all your principles, you'd want to at least achieve something. What have they achieved...?

...a Carbon tax.

Way to f**king go.

Voters will show no mercy to the Greens come the next election, and they deserve it. They bloody well deserve to be annihilated, every bit as much as FF do. I just hope some sort of new party with genuine integrity can emerge some time soon.

ART6

Our electoral system, being party based, means that to be elected to any meaningful position wherein you could make a difference you have to climb through the party ranks and follow the whip. In due course the people will elect a party because they vote for party members. Whichever party then achieves a majority (or can cobble one together with another party that the people certainly didn't vote for -- Greens or PDs for example) is then in government. To get to that position it is normal for politicians to act like Santa Claus. "We will offer health care to every man and dog." "We will give you public transport that will mean you never have to walk again in your life". "When you are old and infirm we will enter you into the Garden of Eden". "We will reduce your taxes so that you have so much money you will think you have won the Lotto".

Of course it is all lies, because that is the currency of Irish politics. Once secure in power for the term before the next election all of those ambitions can be abandoned ( "Ah well, we didn't forsee the recession...etc...etc") and they know full well that there is not a damned thing any of us can do about it.

AARRRRGH

BluntGuy wrote: »

The Green Party have lost all their credibility, at least to me. FF never had any to begin with, so their actions in government haven't surprised me in the least.

Things like seeing Eamon Ryan, a talented speaker whom I admired greatly, stand up in the Dail a few weeks ago, and defend the indefensible Willie O'Dea, just summed it all up for me.

They are a useless party in government, just another FF add-on accessory - like the PDs became.

And it is so heart-breaking, because our country NEEDS a green party, it needs a party with integrity, it needs a party that is socially and environmental conscious. But good lord, Gormley's Green Party are certainly not them.

They have had numerous opportunities to showcase they have integrity and some sort of honour, numerous chances to pull out, numerous chances to say "no, this isn't right". They took none. It is shocking how easily they adapted themselves to the FF culture of hypocrisy and lies, but they did, and quite magnificently at that.

Gormley is a liar. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, and I accepted there would have to be significant compromise. But what the Greens have done is far beyond compromise. They have destroyed themselves... and for what?

I mean, if you're going to turn your back on all your principles, you'd want to at least achieve something. What have they achieved...?

...a Carbon tax.

Way to f**king go.

Voters will show no mercy to the Greens come the next election, and they deserve it. They bloody well deserve to be annihilated, every bit as much as FF do. I just hope some sort of new party with genuine integrity can emerge some time soon.

Dont worry, they'll all make lots of noise and pull out soon enough. They have to do that so they can try to get back some credibility. Thats all it will be though, an exercise in fooling the voters that they stand up for something. If they really meant it, they would have done it ages ago.

anymore

Below is a copy of a post on P.IE on the subject of rendition
http://www.politics.ie/us-politics/125944-obama-thanks-cowen-us-access-shannon-2.html

Once upon a Programme for Government (original version) -

Extraordinary Rendition

The Irish Government is completely opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition.

1. The Government will prioritise effective enforcement of a) Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention Against Torture) Act, 2000 b) The Geneva Conventions Acts 1962-1998.

To that end the Government will encourage and support An Garda Siochana in the investigation and enforcement of these Statutes. It will do so by making resources available for specialized training in the provisions of those Statutes to members of An Garda Siochána and by other means as may be required by An Garda Siochana in order to ensure effective protection for the dignity of all persons within or passing through the State.

We will ensure that all relevant legal instruments are used so that the practice of extraordinary rendition does not occur in this State in any form.

That was 2007.

In 2009 that all went in the bin and this replaced it -

Renditions
• We will review and change if necessary the legislation affecting civilian aircraft in the context of the existing and ongoing work of the Cabinet Sub Committee on Human Rights and will, as is appropriate, strengthen the powers of inspection of such aircraft and the collection of flight information.

On the tarmac at Shannon, nothing changed. The only people arrested there were people pointing out what was going on.

Nice of Obama to say thanks

maynooth_rules

I would also like to add that a part of their renegotiated Programme for Government was that a certain number of new teaching posts would be created immediatly. I can tell you now that not one of them have been created. I ama teacher so I should know

Raiser

Yeah - They broke their promises one at a time, initially with an uncomfortable look on their smug faces, then after a time with a good story and eventually with a downright smirk......

Fianna Fail were founded in 1926 and in that 84 years grew in a twisted and disturbing way into a faceless, conscienceless, corrupt machine with only one real agenda self-preservation for myself and my equally vapid Successors.

The Irish Green Party entered Government in mid 2007 under circumstances that were immediately a betrayal of integrity and have since then worked diligently to show that they can outclass Fianna Fail in every Arena of dishonesty, corruption, inefficiency and overall brazen disrespect towards their Electorate.

- In my opinion, this is the real reason why People recognise Fianna Fails Modus Operandi and simply shrug in a helpless and exasperated way - But when they see the Green Party act in the same manner they feel personally violated and betrayed and exhibit such absolute scorn, abhorrence and disgust.

Elmo

Did FF break their pre-election promises?

No, sure its the whole international economic climate sure what were they to know?