Greens’ Martin a radical? Opposite seems to be the case

YOUR report on the Green Party leadership contest could not help but be bland, reflecting exactly the situation that has now arisen (‘Greens debate: Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin play a draw but party leader has the edge’, Irish Independent, July 8). In fact, there are sufficient grounds now to abandon the exercise as both candidates clearly occupy the exact same ground.

The head-to-head was originally touted as a contest between two candidates with different approaches. Martin representing the views of younger, left-leaning members who did not wish to enter into coalition with Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil, and Ryan, seen as representing the moderate “old guard”, not comfortable embracing the changes the electorate voted for recently.

Indeed, if the interview with Ivan Yates on TV3 on Tuesday night was anything to go by, Ms Martin’s position seems to have changed so radically there were times she could have been mistaken for a member of Fianna Fáil.

She seemed to defend Barry Cowen in traditional cute-hoor style, refused to outline what would precipitate a Green walk-out, stood over the decision to leave out of the Government line-up one of the great new hopes of Irish politics Neasa Hourigan, and is content to serve in a Government with a gender mix that is an affront to every woman in the country (four senior positions out of 16). A reforming politician would never agree to serve in such a Government.

The most depressing aspect is that it is obvious now what we are about to get in the next four-plus years is simply more of the same. What is the point anymore? Jim O’Sullivan

Rathedmond, Co Sligo