Dan Boyle (Green Party)

There is no glossing over the fact this has been a difficult set of elections for the Green Party-Comhaontas Glas. It is part of the maturing of any political party to experience election success and also deep failures. It was the lot of Fine Gael in the 2002 general election and the Labour Party in the 1997 and 1987 general elections. We live in an era of pendulum politics where large number of votes shift easily given the time and context in which an election is held. I have no doubt the electorate intended to give my party a kick in the shins; unfortunately, they amputated us from the knee down. The situation we find ourselves in gives us cause for great reflection but I believe it will lead to the betterment of our party in the long run.

That said, the Opposition parties performed well in the elections. They played on the obvious anger that exists. They also played no little part in fomenting some of that anger. That is, however, the way of politics. When the dust settles, there will be a responsibility on the Opposition parties to answer themselves the questions they raised about several Government policies. If the public service pension levy is unpopular, what is the Opposition's alternative of raising moneys? If the income levy is unpopular, what is its alternative? I accept some other decisions made by the Government have been short-sighted, wrong-minded and need to be re-examined. However, would the Opposition parties, if they were in government, be able to deal with the current economic situation without making unpopular decisions? No government can not make unpopular decisions given the current economic times.

I would go further to suggest the Opposition parties do not want to be in government.