Roche brands Greens 'enemies of progress'
A Government minister launched a blistering attack on the Green Party today, branding it an enemy of Ireland’s progress.
Environment Minister Dick Roche accused the party of having obstructive policies ahead of its national conference in Kilkenny this weekend.
“Over the past decade the Irish economy has been transformed. Real and substantial gains have been made. Yet at every stage of this remarkable transformation, the Green party has been there shouting ’Stop’,” he said.
“This weekend they will again undertake to reverse this progress. They oppose the provision of housing for our growing population. Instead of improving and developing our roads network, they will call for roadblocks.
“They will continue to endorse legal actions taken to prevent essential infrastructure projects such as the M3 in Meath just as they endorsed the actions of the Glen of the Downs eco-warriors in Wicklow before that.
“And they are not changing on this, their negative response to the recently published Strategic Infrastructure Bill is absolutely typical of their obstructive policies.”
Mr Roche said the Greens would try to convince voters they were ready for government this weekend, but were in reality committed to increasing taxes.
“The reality is that whatever manoeuvres the Greens indulge in this weekend, they remain the enemies of progress,” the Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow said.
“In recent months they have opposed the abolition of the Groceries’ Order, a move designed to provide lower prices for consumers. They have condemned the revised services directive recently passed in the European parliament, a move which flies in the face of Ireland’s progress in the services sector.
“Another key initiative they are opposing is commercial independence for Aer Lingus. They have also rejected the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders. Nor should it be forgotten that they remain implacable opponents of Ireland’s tradition of housing for a vibrant rural community.”
“Yet the Greens aspire to go into government and they are a vital prop to the ambitions of Fine Gael and Labour. It is obvious that such a government would be greatly to Ireland’s detriment and would halt the progress of the past decade. This can’t be allowed to happen and I don’t believe the Irish people will allow it,” he added.
