Gilmore hides behind rhetoric and soundbites

Green Party TD Trevor Sargent today said Labour Party Leader Eamon Gilmore, is running scared after his Party’s astonishing u-turn on animal welfare.

Speaking after the Labour leader again dodged a debate on RTE Radio, Deputy Sargent said: “Eamon Gilmore refuses to debate live on air and instead relies on rhetoric and soundbites. Today, he refused to debate the issue of stag hunting with Green Party leader, John Gormley, because he knows the Party’s u-turn on animal welfare has disgusted Labour voters."

The Labour Party Leader has now refused several public debate challenges from the Green Party.

“Any talk about animal welfare issues slowing down the business of Government is false. It was the Labour Party who wanted to extend the debate time on this bill. Animal welfare is a relatively minor issue compared with the job of stabilising public finances and getting people back to work – I do not want to see any more valuable time spent on it.

“Labour shamelessly sat on the fence throughout the unions’ debate on the Croke Park agreement rather than showing leadership to working people. They have shown a muddled view on water charges and now have reneged on a long-term animal welfare policy, all in the hope of garnering a few more votes through a populist point of view,” concluded Deputy Sargent.