Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue has slammed the Green Party and questioned why
anyone would want to go into government with them.
The representative for Limerick County said he has “no real confidence” in leader Eamon Ryan and accused the Greens of talking “a lot of hot air”.
Mr O’Donoghue, a builder from the village of
Ballingarry, believes the party, which is in talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, wants to “look at farming and how they are going to reduce it”.
The deputy added: “The majority of Greens were elected from cities, not counties. They know nothing about rural Ireland. People here are the best, they will adapt. But you can’t expect them to do something that you’re not prepared to do yourself.
“I cannot understand why the government want to enter into talks with the Greens. They don’t reflect all of Ireland.”
Limerick City Green Party TD Brian Leddin described Mr O’Donoghue as a “good guy” with a clear mandate from his constituents but he said he would “respectfully disagree” with his remarks.
Mr Leddin, also a first-term TD, added: “I’d like to work with him to help him understand how we can work together to help all people in this country, rural and urban.
“We have members from all walks of life, including many working farmers, and most of our members are from outside Dublin."
