Insult added to injury – Gormley happy that education escapes cuts

“Gormley has made a statement about education: he’s delighted that no cuts were made to education …” (discussion thread)

[Politics.ie, 24 November]

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Greens happy education escapes cuts

“Environment Minister John Gormley has joined the Taoiseach and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan to unveil Ireland’s swingeing spending cuts, despite leading calls for a general election date to be set in January …” (more)

[Independent, 24 November]

Gormley refuses to rule out fees

“Green Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley has refused to rule out imminent proposals for the Government to bring back third level fees despite his party’s opposition to any such move. Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe will bring a range of proposed changes to the free fees scheme to Mr Gormley and other Cabinet colleagues in the coming weeks, and will make a recommendation to them based on their responses …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 1 June]

Third-level fees – Reality can be bitter

“Like so very many others Environment Minister and Green Party leader John Gormley seems to have to adjust his aspirations to match our new reality. Just two years ago his party’s education policies were central to its 2007 election manifesto and included the pledge that it would not support third-level fees. This was reiterated at its conference just two months ago. However, Mr Gormley must face imminent proposals from Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe to re-impose some sort of fee. Whether this is realpolitik or a capitulation is subjective …” (more)

[Irish Examiner, 1 June]