Could Eamon Ryan & Ciaran Cuffe be persuded to become an "Independent Greens"

[NoPropertyTax]

I'm guessing both of them recognise their seats are at risk in the next election, and one way of saving their own seats would be to jump off the sinking ship and by doing so help the Greens have a part in the next government.
If they both said they would support green legislation, but not the extreme tax rises and cutbacks that are coming in the next budget, it would show the greens have a social conscience, and ordinary working people would reward their courage by re-electing them (I'm in Dublin south and the only thing that would persuade me to ever vote Green again would be if Eamon Ryan did something like this).
Otherwise the Greens risk being washed away by the tidal wave of anti-government feeling when the election finally comes around in 2012
So does anyone think they could be persuaded ?

[SPN]

I'm guessing both of them recognise their seats are at risk in the next election, and one way of saving their own seats would be to jump off the sinking ship and by doing so help the Greens have a part in the next government.
If they both said they would support green legislation, but not the extreme tax rises and cutbacks that are coming in the next budget, it would show the greens have a social conscience, and ordinary working people would reward their courage by re-electing them (I'm in Dublin south and the only thing that would persuade me to ever vote Green again would be if Eamon Ryan did something like this).
Otherwise the Greens risk being washed away by the tidal wave of anti-government feeling when the election finally comes around in 2012
So does anyone think they could be persuaded ?

The Country is going to spend +/-€30 Billion more than it takes in in revenue in 2009.

One way to resolve this in 2010 is to reduce spending, and another way to resolve this in 2010 is to raise the amount of revenue coming in.

You don't want to see either course of action being taken.


Please advise what course of action you would recommend as an alternative.

[anchor]

Even before there was great antipathy towards the Greens, Ciaran Cuffe still only barely got the fifth seat in Dunlaoghaire. With that constituency now a four seater, resurgent Fine Gael and Labour parties, and with People Before Profit having a great local election, its hard to think of any scenario that would allow him to hold 5th place, let alone climb one place to 4th. So IMO, it'll make no difference whether Cuffe jumps ship or not - he will not be returned next election.
As for Ryan, what makes you think there's any chance he might leave the Greens? As ministers, Gormley and Ryan have been rock solid Government members so its hard to see how he could now make an exit while retaining any credibility. If there is an upswing in the economy in three years time, and the public mood is less hostile, I would have thought Ryan would have more chance of surviving than Cuffe, but I can't see it happening.

[FakeViking]

DLR goes from a 5-seater to a 4-seater next time around. Cuffe would need a miracle to retain his seat, although he might be helped by the fact that FF should loose two! ('Monageer' Andrews and the Rodent)

[locke]

Ryan is a cabinet minister. I can't imagine him giving that up too easily.

As others have noted, Cuffe is as good as gone anyway.

If you were looking for a Green to go down the Independent Green route, I'd suggest Gogarty is the most likely candidate.

[Aindriu]

The more Greens that fail to be elected the better IMO.

[NoPropertyTax]

The Country is going to spend +/-€30 Billion more than it takes in in revenue in 2009.

One way to resolve this in 2010 is to reduce spending, and another way to resolve this in 2010 is to raise the amount of revenue coming in.

You don't want to see either course of action being taken.


Please advise what course of action you would recommend as an alternative.

Well - Taxes that would be fair to the lower paid (and the governments proposed property tax would be deeply unfair to those on lower wages, the unemployed, the elderly). We should have very high taxes on luxury things like SUVs for example. And the cuts should be in wasteful administration rather than in front line services. I understand people are concerned about the public finances, but the Greens should show they care for the quality of life of the public too.

[flavirostris]

Not a hope, they are as wedded to FF now as Gormley.
Gormley, White, Cuffe, Gogarty and probably Ryan will all go at the next election.
I don't think even Sargent is safe now, following the Green wipeout in Fingal

[Jock_the_Waster]

I'm guessing both of them recognise their seats are at risk in the next election, and one way of saving their own seats would be to jump off the sinking ship and by doing so help the Greens have a part in the next government.
If they both said they would support green legislation, but not the extreme tax rises and cutbacks that are coming in the next budget, it would show the greens have a social conscience, and ordinary working people would reward their courage by re-electing them (I'm in Dublin south and the only thing that would persuade me to ever vote Green again would be if Eamon Ryan did something like this).
Otherwise the Greens risk being washed away by the tidal wave of anti-government feeling when the election finally comes around in 2012
So does anyone think they could be persuaded ?

what are you talking about?

both of them are clearly at home in FF

[TradCat]

Well - Taxes that would be fair to the lower paid (and the governments proposed property tax would be deeply unfair to those on lower wages, the unemployed, the elderly). We should have very high taxes on luxury things like SUVs for example

Well we need €20 billion. Now if you tax SUVs at a punitive rate you will stop people from driving them but you won't bring in any more revenue. Luxury taxes won't go anywhere near filling the hole in our finances.