The independent TDs who support the Government have said they will withdraw their support if the Government takes up an offer of support from the Green Party on legislation designed to ban Oireachtas members from holding local authority seats.
Wicklow TD Ms Mildred Fox said if they accepted the offer made over the weekend they could look to the Greens in the future for support. "If they start chopping and changing at this point, then they may as well develop a permanent relationship with them," she said. This was echoed by Kerry TD Mr Jackie Healy-Rae.
"For the past four years the Government have had the Greens. If they want to rely on the Greens now, well they can. When we got going everyone said it would only last six months, but we've gone for four years. If the Government want to break that, then it's up to themselves to break it."
The four TDs - Ms Fox, Mr Healy-Rae, Mr Harry Blaney and Mr Thomas Gildea - have made their position on the legislation known to the Government in recent weeks.
According to Ms Fox, it was raised at their regular weekly meeting yesterday but only briefly. "It was just a matter of restating our case every time we meet. They know where we stand. We have said we would be very unhappy if this is brought in. I don't think the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, understood the implications for backbenchers and Independents. I think he is considering that now."
Ms Fox said they wanted the matter dealt with as quickly as possible. "It's due to come into the Dail again on March 29th. We have emphasised that we do not want it delayed. There is a feeling around that we are holding this up and we are not. Let the Greens offer what they want, will they offer to vote the following week with the Government?"
On Sunday the Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley, said the decision to support the Local Government Bill was taken at a party meeting. The banning of the dual mandate, he said, had always been a core value of his party. The decision, he said, "put it up" to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Mr Dempsey had made a compromise offer to the independent TDs to postpone the move until 2009 but this was turned down. "That's just the same thing," said Ms Fox. "They're just trying to soften the landing."