Green Party gifts plum positions on state bodies to election losers

The party has been accused of putting even Fianna Fáil to shame with its 'sickening and appalling' acts of cronyism

Shane Coleman and Conor McMorrow

Niall O Brolcháin

Gene Feighery

Brian Meaney

Stiofan Nutty

David Healy

Vincent P Martin

Caroline Burrell

Martin Hogan

Elizabeth Davidson

Leo Varadkar, who called the Greens 'hypocrites'

OVER a third of the Green councillors who lost their seats in last year's local elections have been appointed to state bodies and other plum positions by the government in recent months, the Sunday Tribune has established.

The party, which has long railed against the practice of appointing party hacks to state boards and even demanded that it be addressed in the programme for government, is now being accused of "sickening and appalling... cronyism" by the opposition.

Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar launched a blistering attack on the junior coalition partner, claiming they are "hypocrites" and "never has a party sold itself so cheaply".

"If there was an Olympics of setting up committees, Fianna Fáil would win it every time... [but] one thing that has shocked me is the behaviour of the Green party," he said.

"Since the last local elections the Green Party has appointed at least seven failed election candidates to state boards. It has even set up a whole new Green quango, the Foras Organach, to facilitate its members."

Foras Organach is a new body which was established to drive forward the development of the organic sector. Stiofán Nutty, the former Green Party secretary general and current special adviser to junior minister Trevor Sargent, was appointed to its board. Nutty does have a background in this area and represents Sargent on the board as part of his advisory role.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan recently appointed Martin Hogan to the new Fás board – he previously ran unsuccessfully for Greens in the 2007 Seanad elections and the local elections last June.

Varadkar claims the Greens have "engaged in the most appalling acts of cronyism, which would bring shame to the sleaziest member of Fianna Fáil.

"The way in which the Green Party members have behaved is sickening and appalling. They are doing their best to pack committees and boards with failed Green Party election candidates.

"Fianna Fáil is the driving instructor and the Green Party members are the learner drivers, and it has taught them well. The cronyism in which they are engaging is disgusting."

Last December, Caroline Burrell, a former Bray town councillor for the Greens, was appointed to the board of the National Disability Authority.

Two of the party's other losers last June have been appointed to the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB).

Former Monaghan county councillor, Vincent P Martin, who is a barrister, and Gene Feighery, an environmentalist and former Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor, were both appointed to the PRTB recently.

Former Galway city mayor Niall O Brolcháin was recently gifted a Seanad seat as he was the only government nominee for a vacancy on the agricultural panel.

Failed Dublin South by-election candidate Elizabeth Davidson was appointed as a classifier to watch movies for the Irish Film Classification Office (Ifco).

David Healy, who lost his Fingal County Council seat last June, was previously appointed as one of Gormley's special advisers in May 2008.

In recent days, Clare county councillor Brian Meaney was appointed to the EU Committee of the Regions.

A Green Party spokesman said: "Fine Gael is in no position to make any such allegations. We have a good record in appointing people of all political affiliations. Anybody who has been appointed is qualified for the position. They all have a track record and knowledge of a given area."

Party sources also claimed that the Greens have appointed people who have clearly differing political views such as well-known Labour figure Brendan Halligan, who is now chairman of Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI).

February 7, 2010