Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has described Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats as "a disgrace" to the men and women of 1916 and the principles they fought for.
Speaking at the launch of his party's annual conference in Kilkenny yesterday evening, Mr Sargent said
Green Party chairman John Gormley (left) and leader Trevor Sargent at the launch of the party's annual conference in Kilkenny yesterday. Mr Sargent said the key policies for his party in any future negotiations on joining in government were transport, housing, childcare and energy.
the Government's current policies had created a very unequal and divided society in Ireland.
"Maybe Frank Dunlop, the former Fianna Fáil government press secretary, understands what makes this Government tick more than most," he said.
"He told the Mahon tribunal . . . that when a crooked Fianna Fáil politician was bought, he stayed bought."
He said: "When you see who dines in the Fianna Fáil tent at the Galway Races, it is clear that this Government is well bought by those who benefit most from Irish society being more divided and vulnerable than ever."
Speaking in advance of the planned official celebrations next month to mark the Rising's 90th anniversary, Mr Sargent said the two Government parties were "a disgrace to the men and women of 1916 and the principles of sovereignty and equality for which they died".