Jostling for power shows Greens have lost their innocence

SO CATHERINE Martin of the Greens is going for the jugular. Nothing wrong with that. Nicey nicey never does the biz when climbing the greasy pole. Her unabashed bid for the top job also reminds us things are returning to normal in our post-lockdown world.

We have traditionally cast the Greens as a cuddly group. Eating their lentils, in love with their bikes, and battling to save the planet. They seemed apart from the grubbier side of things. But no more. Old-style fear and loathing has brought a sourness to the surface, surprising in its venomous intent.

During the apex of the Covid crisis, Ireland was forced in on itself. It was a time like no other. Stalked by a common enemy, there was a bonding and unity of purpose. But as the scare has eased, powerful instincts have come to the fore once more.

There has been a huge psychosocial shift in the last few days. More mature folk still tiptoe cautiously. But almost everybody else just wants to get on with things. They may be operating with a certain degree of caution – but there is aching impatience for their lives to be the way they used to be.

One old truth never went away. Regardless of circumstances, human nature remains an ever-changing constant. And so dormant desires are beginning to resurrect themselves. Ambition – and as a consequence the drive to get one over on an opponent – is as old as time itself.

It’s just a little ironic those perceived to be ‘nice people’ in the Greens are first out of the traps by way of embracing the skullduggery vibe. Back-stabbing and ruthless jostling for position is gathering pace in a grouping we somehow thought to be above that kind of thing.

But there is no point moralising, just because a political collective washes dirty linen in public at an inopportune time. Self-interest trumps the national interest when personal ambition is on the line. If Catherine Martin is convinced now is the ideal time to unseat Eamon Ryan, then she is most unlikely to change her tune.

However, this leadership battle is traumatising her party. There are wounds which will take long a long time to heal. Deputy Ryan this week had to rely on assurances from Labour and Fine Gael TDs he is not a racist.

Enemies within his own tribe, seeking advantage for their candidate in the upcoming leadership set-to, would have us believe the opposite. His perceived guilt was based on a Dáil reference as he backed the Black Lives Matter campaign. The assault on his reputation was a tawdry aside showing how personal things have become.

Only a few days ago, Catherine Martin’s husband, Green TD Francis Noel Duffy, had to apologise to Ryan. He had retweeted an accusation which said the current leader wanted a deal with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil just to garner a cabinet job for himself.

It accused him of wanting to “creep off to a ministerial seat”. And it came with a warning Ms Martin plans to “bury” him and the “old Greens”. So the gloves are off. As of now, the party is split almost down the middle between two rival camps. More dirt will fly until somebody is declared the winner.

Heavy hitters from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil must be looking on askance. Of course they are also practised in the dark arts.

Within his own party, Micheál Martin has to watch his back. Even in Fine Gael, Leo’s always aware the

Simon Coveney camp watches and waits.

In fairness, the Greens – with their numbers pivotal to a new government – could hardly remain innocents. Once they might have been regarded as effete, with a propensity to wrestle with their conscience, trying to do the right thing. But the Trevor Sargent era is truly over.

A post-Covid world is taking shape. Any coalition arrangement will be harried and hyper. Regardless of what happens the junior party will remain in ferment.

However, keeping all involved in a new government on edge might be no bad thing.

It’s a time of lost innocence for the Greens. They have embraced a hardnosed way of doing things.

How that will go down with voters – next time the party is judged at the polls – remains the great unknown.

Keeping all involved in a new coalition on edge might be no bad thing