Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

In politics and in history we recognise the tactic of divide and conquer. Another tactic, however, which is often more effective, is to unite a group of people in opposition to the wrong cause. This tactic is used to create a distraction and to get people fighting passionately against what might be in their own interests and the interests of the greater good. It suits some in politics and big business to create a bogeyman of the environmental movement and, indeed, of the Green Party. We hear the hysterical cries of the agrifood lobby and of those in politics who dance to its tune every time the slightest effort is made to change course, even by a few degrees, away from the unsustainable and environmentally calamitous profit for the few status quo.

Time and again, politics has yielded and bowed to the most effective lobbying effort in Europe. We have seen this in the context of the debate on the nature restoration law. The European People's Party, of which Fine Gael is a member in Europe, walked out of talks today. We have seen Sinn Féin, the main party in the Opposition, join forces with Fine Gael in Europe. When it comes to seriousness on nature restoration, it seems these parties are Tweedledum and Tweedledee. It is impossible to tell them apart.

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