Cabinet row after Green Party accused of trying to 'run riot' with public finances
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A Cabinet row has erupted, with ministers accusing the Green Party of trying to "run riot" with the public finances on the eve of the election.
The coalition has clashed over spending during the final Cabinet meeting, with the Green Party criticised for trying to "wedge through" a large number of items, including a proposal to spend more than €1bn from a long-term fund on retrofitting of State-buildings, including schools and hospitals.
Taoiseach Simon Harris is set to call an election before the end of the week, with the final pieces of key legislation expected to pass through the Dáil on Wednesday evening.
But during the last Cabinet meeting, former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan sought to bring through six memos, including one on the Climate Fund — a move that was pushed back on by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
While the coalition leaders had ruled the memo off the agenda ahead of the meeting, Mr Ryan still brought the matter up when the ministers met in Government Buildings.
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One minister said the Green Party was then forced to "sheepishly" withdraw the proposal, after the Taoiseach and Tánaiste intervened.
"Let's say he was clear: 'not today'," the minister said of Mr Harris's reaction.
Another minister dryly commented that memos brought by Mr Ryan were "so urgent, he sat on them for the past four-and-a-half years".
A third minister, who described the move as the "Greens trying to run riot" just hours before a general election, noted "Roderic [O'Gorman] was clever enough. He held quiet."
Another Cabinet source suggested it represented "last minute manoeuvres" and "electioneering" from the Green Party.
It is understood departing Mr Ryan had sought to allocate money into climate action measures to improve and retrofit public buildings and also provide a second pot to upgrade privately owned buildings.
It was argued the Government does not have the authority to commit to such a significant change so close to an election.
Mr Ryan was also slapped down, as other departments were not consulted on what would have been a wide-ranging measure.
"The Taoiseach and Tánaiste were quite clear. There is a process, you have to have input from departments," said one senior Government source.