'Absolutely no need,’ insists Gormley

‘We don’t need the Greens,’ insisted Minister for the Environment John Gormley earlier today.

‘Mary Harney has retained the Ministry of Health despite the fact that her party voted itself out of existence. Indeed, she was instrumental in that decision. So, frankly, the Greens can resign as much as they want – we’re staying here.’

The statement was a reaction to the resignation of Councillors Chris O'Leary and Bronwen Maher.

Ms Maher, in an open letter to the party leader today, said that the Greens had betrayed their oringinal position on the Poolbeg incinerator, the M3 and Tara, the Shannon stop-over & the Corrib gas project.

She also criticised the failure to introduce a carbon levy, prevent the cut-backs in the Equality Authority & prevent the withdrawal of vaccines for women.

‘All we’re doing is implementing EU policy that would be implemented anyway,’ she said.