PRESS RELEASE

23/03/2005

FG must come clean: would they govern with the Greens? - Kelleher

Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has called on Fine Gael to come clean on whether they would enter government with the Green Party.

‘Fine Gael consistently claims that they are on the side of rural Ireland. In the Dáil this week, the party’s frontbench again spoke up in support of the live exports trade - a trade the Green Party strongly opposes.

‘According to Fine Gael parliamentary party chairman Tom Hayes, livestock has been treated in ‘top-class’ conditions. He went on to express concern about what drives the Green agenda and the impact it will have on the ordinary people of rural Ireland,’ said Deputy Kelleher.

He said he shared that concern but was deeply sceptical about how it could be reconciled with Fine Gael’s decision to recommend transfers to the Green Party in last year’s elections.

‘There are also serious differences of opinion between the two parties on the reformed Common Agricultural Policy and the Nitrates Directive. The Green Party is staunchly opposed to the ancient Irish tradition of dispersed - or one-off - housing. This is another area in which the party’s outlook is totally at odds with that of Fine Gael.

‘It is essential that Fine Gael now explains how they could consider governing with the Green Party. Until Fine Gael does so, any claims of support for rural Ireland will have to be treated with the deepest misgivings,’ concluded Deputy Kelleher.

ENDS