Green Party Convention 6-8 March 2009

[SPN]

Don't they just...

How you can claim Fianna Fail are the party to make the "tough decisions" after Cowen's dithering with the Social Partners is beyond me. As a Green can you really say you're happy with the nature of the cuts, and those people and areas targetted, so far?

Cowen had no option but to deal with the Social Partners. If they could be brought onside without the threat of strikes it would have been better than making the cuts unilaterally. Now we have a situation where the Unions accept the need to reduce expenditure to match income, but refuse to play ball in making the necessary cuts. Cowen has covered his ass, and rightly so. The hypocrisy of the Unions is now there for all to see.

75% of Green supporters thought the cuts didn't go far enough. I'm one of them.

Every area was cut except Health, Education and Social Welfare. These three areas got additional funding. I'm still trying to find out where the extra 360 million that went into Education is to be spent.

[Aristander]

I was thinking more of FF holding meetings with the Social Partners initially without presenting any real proposals.

Are you saying this government has not introduced cuts in health and education?

[AndrewM]

I'll be there and running for another term on the NEC. I'll set up the mandatory Facebook group shortl, suggestions for catchy campaign slogan welcome