Gormley brushes up 'Rainbow coalition'
Tuesday February 24 2009
GREEN Party leader John Gormley last night said he was "open to the concept of a national government" as the fallout from the banking crisis continued.
"I don't think it would be responsible for any party to say that this isn't on the agenda," Mr Gormley said.
His Cabinet colleague, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey, meanwhile, labelled those who had gambled with Ireland's reputation as guilty of "no less than economic treason".
"People should pay a price for that," Mr Dempsey added.
Rebuffed
Mr Gormley said that Fianna Fail was "not particularly interested" in a national unity government, but neither were Fine Gael and Labour.
The opposition parties are believed to have rebuffed recent Green approaches about a possible renewed Rainbow Coalition.
But he warned: "We're in a situation now that we need to think outside the box, to think the unthinkable because we need -- all of us as politicians -- to put the national interest ahead of our own political careers.
"Frankly, if Fine Gael and Labour feel that they want to take over the country -- well, if they keep going on the way they are, they may not have a country to take over at all.
"When it comes to these financial difficulties the Government and the opposition are going to have to work together."
He appealed to Fine Gael and Labour to be aware that international markets were focused on Ireland now, and that our reputation was taking a hammering.
Mr Gormley said he understood Fine Gael's resistance to cross-party cooperation "because they were treated with contempt by Fianna Fail" subsequent to the Tallaght strategy.
- Senan Molony Deputy Political Editor
