GREEN TD Paul Gogarty, who stepped down as his party’s education spokesman this week, yesterday chaired a meeting of the Oireachtas education committee despite criticism from Opposition members.

Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said Mr Gogarty was obliged to make a statement about his intentions, “given the fact that you have now spoken about your opposition to government policy and moved away from your own party”.

Mr Hayes said Mr Gogarty was in an “invidious” and “incongruous” position because he continued to earn €20,000 a year for chairing the committee.

“Speaking out of both sides of your mouth at the same time is something you are going to have to come to terms with at some time soon.”

Mr Hayes stressed committee members were not criticising Mr Gogarty’s competence as chairman. “That’s not in question,” he said.

Ruairí Quinn, the Labour Party’s spokesman for education, said committee members had previously regarded their chairman as a “conduit” between the committee and Government.

“I would like you to indicate to us what your status is,” he said.

Mr Gogarty accused the opposition deputies of engaging in “cynical political opportunism”.

He said he had always carried out his duties as committee chairman in an impartial manner.

The Dublin Mid West TD said a motion passed at the party’s conference last weekend, setting up a group charged with achieving the Greens’ education commitments, made his position of education spokesman “unworkable”.

This was the “sole reason” for his decision to resign as party spokesman. It did not relate to the “genuine outrage” he felt about education cutbacks, he said.

Fianna Fáil Senator Celia Keaveney said the topic of discussion was being dictated by the fact that members of the media were present, rather than on the basis of the agenda.

Guests had been invited to appear before the committee to discuss other issues, she said.

Meanwhile, the Green Party did not appoint a replacement education spokesman at its parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday night. The meeting was attended by Mr Gogarty.

Green Party leader John Gormley has already indicated he will not seek the removal of Mr Gogarty as the Oireachtas education committee’s chairman.