The two Green Party ministers, John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, waited in a nearby room with Dan Boyle. They could never get formal confirmation from either the Taoiseach or the finance minister, despite frequent requests. I had been present at a meeting in early September when a senior government official briefed Green Party TDs and Senators. Through all that time, the Green Party politicians continued to push from the inside for a more open approach. John Downing served as deputy government press secretary, assigned to the Green Party, from 2007-2011.

Source: Irish Independent November 28, 2020 03:00 UTC