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Green's Ciarán Cuffe refuses to answer questions on coalition support

The Green Party’s European election candidate for Dublin has refused to be drawn on whether he ...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

16.12 26 May 2019


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Green's Ciarán Cuffe refuses t...

Green's Ciarán Cuffe refuses to answer questions on coalition support

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

16.12 26 May 2019


Share this article


The Green Party’s European election candidate for Dublin has refused to be drawn on whether he would support a coalition with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael.

Ciarán Cuffe was speaking after party leader Eamon Ryan refused to rule out the possibility after the next general election.

Speaking on Newstalk earlier today, the party’s candidate for the Midlands North West, Saoirse McHugh, confirmed that she would resign from the Greens if they entered Government with either party.

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Cllr Cuffe, who remains on course to take the first Dublin seat, said the focus for now should be on this weekend’s results.

“I think she spoke from the heart and I admire that,” he said.

“These are all hypothetical questions. Let’s see how things go today and then we can have a look at these issues.”

When pressed on whether he would support a coalition, he walked away from reporters without answering.

If Ms McHugh is elected she would become the youngest MEP in the European Parliament.

Exit polls put her on 12% of the vote; however, there is a long way to go before the final count is completed.

Speaking to Gavan Reilly on Newstalk this morning she said she questioned whether the big parties are capable of implementing radical enough climate policies.

"I think incrementalism in terms of climate action is done at the cost of support for more radical measures - and I just don't trust that Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael will implement a big, radical system change," she said.

"Now if they do, wouldn't that be great."

Saoirse McHugh Green Party candidate for Europe Saoirse McHugh . Image: Facebook

She noted that she was just providing a personal opinion and said “it would be a democratic vote within the party as to whether we went in or not."

Asked if she would resign if her colleagues voted to enter Government with either party, she said "Yeah".

"I have not thought about this - I don't know why everyone keeps talking about it; there's been no general election even announced," she said.

As things stand, the Green Party has increased its local vote by nearly 5%.

The party is hoping it will be able to take home three European seats.


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Ciaran Cuffe Coalition Eamon Ryan Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Green Party Saoirse McHugh

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