Ireland's Green Party quits coalition government
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Ireland's Green Party announced Sunday it can no longer remain in the coalition government led by Prime Minister Brian Cowen.
"For a very long time we in the Green Party have stood back in the hope that Fianna Fail (Republican Party) could resolve persistent doubts about their party leadership. A definitive resolution of this has not yet been possible. And our patience has reached an end," said Green Party leader John Gormley in a statement.
"Because of these continuing doubts, the lack of communication and the breakdown in trust, we have decided that we can no longer continue in government," he said.
But Gormley promised to ensure passage of the Finance Bill before the March 11 election.
"We will remain true to our promise to support the Finance Bill from the Opposition benches, with the promised cooperation of the opposition parties," he said.
He told reporters that he had resigned as a minister with immediate effect as have other Green Party members.
At present, Gormley is environment minister in the coalition government.
He said he did not regret entering government with Fianna Fail and was happy that the party had made a valued contribution.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Cowen said he will arrange for the resignations of the Green Party ministers to be forwarded to the president and as soon as they are accepted by the president he will reassign the portfolios.
Cowen said in Portlaoise, County Laois that he does not accept that the Finance Bill can be progressed through the Dail (lower house of parliament) in the next seven days and it is now the government's priority to proceed with the bill.
He also said he has no intention of resigning as prime minister.
Cowen said Finance Minister Brian Lenihan will meet with other parties' spokespersons on finance on Monday to consider a timeframe for the progress of the Finance Bill through the Dail.
In a related development, the Labor Party, one of Ireland's major opposition parties, said it will hold off on its motion of no confidence in the government if it commits to bringing forward the Finance Bill and has it enacted by Friday next week. The party also wants the government to dissolve the Dail and call an election on Friday.
