Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has attacked Independent TDs in the final run-in to the general election, warning of the consequences if they hold the balance of power after Friday’s vote.
In an interview with The Irish Times, Mr O’Gorman said he had a “real worry” about a government propped up by what he categorised as “right wing Independents”.
“The prospect of [Tipperary TD] Mattie McGrath at the Department of the Environment, or [Meath West TD] Peadar Tóibín in the Department of Health, those are the things that worry me,” he said. Mr Tóibín is the leader of Aontú, not an Independent TD.
O’Gorman criticised governments which have had Independent involvement, saying the 2016-2020 minority government did not give stability or take difficult decisions. Against the backdrop of geopolitical and trade tensions, he said the government needs to be stable and to act decisively.
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“That won’t be the case if we have Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael propped up by Independents.”
Asked about a potential coalition with Sinn Féin, he said the party “hasn’t said a word about climate” since 2020, and raised questions over funding commitments for climate in its manifesto, as well as an absence of walking and cycling measures. He said the party is “picking and choosing” its policies from other parties.
On carbon tax, which Sinn Féin does not support, Mr O’Gorman said: “We’re not going to support any steps that takes us backwards in terms of achieving our carbon emissions. And removing the carbon tax would be a negative step.”
He rejected Sinn Féin’s manifesto proposal for a peer review of RTÉ's coverage of the Gaza war.
“This isn’t Hungary or Russia. Every party gets fed up with the media from time to time but a normal democratic party doesn’t try to gag it in response.”
The Dublin West TD also rounded on his Cabinet colleague, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, saying he didn’t put enough of a focus on accommodating asylum seekers who remain in direct provision despite having permission to stay on in the country.
Some 6,000 people are in this category, which has increased the pressure on the Department of Integration to find beds for those seeking protection in Ireland.
“Minister O’Brien wasn’t focused on meeting the needs of people with status in international protection. It wasn’t a priority for him,” he said.
He said he could see a case for these people, who are able to work and live legally in the country, being charged a fee while in state accommodation, but was “less convinced” of the need for a contribution charge from those who were living in government-sponsored facilities but did not have a decision on their asylum application yet.
Mr O’Gorman has campaigned strongly on the central theme that only his party can deliver progress on climate-related issues in government and has been critical of his former coalition partners for interfering in some policy initiatives.
He criticised Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for blocking the release of funds from the Climate and Nature fund to businesses and public services at the last Cabinet meeting before the Dáil was dissolved.
“The actual tangible help was blocked by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael,” he said. “When it actually comes to the measures, particularly the financial measures to help people.”
He also cast doubt on the pair’s ability to retain a derogation Ireland has to the EU nitrates directive governing water quality, saying they were suggesting they would “go to Europe and stamp their feet”.
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