Dan Boyle (Green Party)

In 2007 my party entered government with the consent of its members. It did so on the basis of a programme for Government we considered we could implement. Economic circumstances, informed by the events of 2002 to 2007, were such that some options were not available. We had choices as a political party and still do. We could walk away or decide to make the right decisions. Ours will be a period of economic history that will not be judged on whether the most popular jobs were done. It is easy to do and say popular things. We see political parties which are benefiting from saying the others are wrong and that they would do better, without justifying any of their statements. The reality is that we will be judged on whether the right decisions were made. The real test of a Government is when the economic slowdown hits to such an extent that unpalatable decisions must be made. It is in such periods that there is a real test of character and political parties justify their existence. The Government has not got things right; there is no doubt about this.