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https://vine.co/v/eJjdvHBVbJV
THE INDEPENDENT ALLIANCE today unveiled a number of candidates that will be running under its banner at the next general election – although it didn’t quite go to plan.
The political movement – whose members insist it’s not a party – unveiled seven candidates from across the country who will be running in the next general election, including a number of independent councillors.
Shane Ross, who is tipped to lead the alliance, also introduced Senator Feargal Quinn as its latest recruit. The veteran businessman will not stand for the Dáil at the next election and intends to retire from the Seanad but he will be the chairperson of the group.
“I am very impressed with what this group said they intend to do. They don’t intend to have a party whip except for confidence votes in the government,” Quinn told the media on the Leinster House plinth today.
He also joked that in introducing him, Ross forgot to mention his keen interest in golf and…
TheJournal Politics / TwitterFeargal Quinn says he's disappointed Shane Ross didn't mention his sex appeal 🙈🙈🙈 pic.twitter.com/g46RXZE1At
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
The press conference didn’t go entirely to plan, however.
It transpired that candidates who spoke to the media were in breach of a long-standing Leinster House rule that non-members of the Oireachtas are not allowed to be interviewed by the media in the complex.
When an usher intervened, the press conference had to be concluded by the TDs and Senators before the media were brought outside to interview the candidates.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterProblems here as Leinster House usher informs Shane Ross that non-members of Oireachtas can't do interviews on plinth pic.twitter.com/5ZoYgBPmn3
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
Ross, who has been in the Oireachtas since 1981, claimed he wasn’t aware of the rule.
He later said it was “absurd” to suggest that not being aware of the rules was indicative of the alliance’s disorganisation.
Later he told the media that more about the Independent Alliance and its policies will be revealed in the autumn along with a number of other candidates. Ross said that at least 20 candidates will run under the alliance’s banner at the next election.
I am not going to be in any rush to produce the final launch that we will have… but we want to get the package right, we want to get the principles built on.
He was referring to the 10 broad principles the alliance outlined in March and which include looking after rural Ireland and women. Ross said there would be no whip on members except on confidence motions and said the aim was to hold the balance of power after the next election.
Ross said there would be no binding manifesto but that there would be a set of bills published in line with the alliance’s priorities. He added:
We’re not a traditional political party. People have got to get this into their heads. We’re radical but we’re responsible and we’re not going to bind people to policies which they don’t agree with.
As well as Ross and Quinn, independent TDs Finian McGrath, Michael Fitzmaurice, Tom Fleming and John Halligan are also part of the group along with Senator Gerard Craughwell, who said he will not run for the Dáil but hopes to be re-elected to the Seanad.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterFinian McGrath says he's excited and delighted pic.twitter.com/ss328IOkzV
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
Among those who will be running for the Dáil as Independent Alliance candidates are Sunday Independent writer Carol Hunt who is standing in Dún Laoghaire.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterSindo writer Carol Hunt is standing for Independent Alliance in Dún Laoghaire pic.twitter.com/Kb5dE2P52F
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
Rathfarnham-based councillor Deirdre O’Donovan will stand in Dublin South-West.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterCouncillor Deirdre O'Donovan will stand for the Independent Alliance pic.twitter.com/Bq6Nn1oSx9
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
Drogheda-based councillor Kevin Callan will run in Louth.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterDrogheda councillor Kevin Callan running as well pic.twitter.com/gHZEyZQVYp
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
Councillor Lorna Nolan will stand for the Independent Alliance in Dublin West:
TheJournal Politics / TwitterLorna Nolan stand in Dublin West pic.twitter.com/1Bk3LjWIUM
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
Councillor Niamh Kennedy will stand in Donegal.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterNiamh Kennedy standing for Independent Alliance in Donegal pic.twitter.com/y21qwmtHBJ
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) June 29, 2015
What a nice way to start the week! Some good news…. finally!
Actual good news. Expect trolls to start abuse…..now.
40 red thumbs for good news. Nobody with the balls to say why. Not happy unless their miserable types probably need a ride.
It’s all a lie getting people to do a weeks work for 20 euro extra on top of there dole does not mean that their working for a proper weeks wage. This tus is a government scam.
And here come the begrudgers, no doubt. How sad it is that it is the default position of so many people on here to greet good news like this with cynicism and evident disappointment purely because it contradicts their “the end is nigh, blame the Government” narrative. Such a dark place to be.
I think they chose a nice picture of Richard for the article, he looks pleased and content and has a nice round bow tie.
One shouldn’t dare to have a critical mindset, lest one attract the dreaded label of ‘begrudger’. Sure if IBEC says there’s good news, it must be true.
Dietrich you are spot on ,take anything this government or any of its institutions says with a pinch of salt you are being sucked in by deception they only have their own interests at heart ,the political classes.
@Touchy.. I could possibly fit into the ‘begrudger” category you state, however to fight my corner I would usually be begrudging due to the fact the way the news is reported more than what it was trying to say. Usually its unemployment figures, however in this case they are actually showing employment figures on the rise, which is not just good news, but good new reporting, as its not trying to cloud the data with emigration, FAS courses and the like.
You can hardly argue with the fact there are more people in employment, hence more tax revenue for the government and hopefully less paying out on Dole cheques.
Drop the higher Vat rate to 20%. Scrap USC. Will create thousands of jobs in retail. Will kick start the local economy. Get Ireland moving again.
Fully agree. Now is the time to take chances while there are signs of a recovery to help boost that recovery.
Reduce VAT rate in construction/ building to 9%. 1 in 4 people on the dole are from the construction industry. A reductuon will help thousands get back to work.
unless the reductions are passed onto customers it will have no effect, it will just mean business making more profit
Its clear not all business passed on the last reduction in vat
Agree 100% but to drop VAT we must drop public spending. Income tax also needs to drop.
If they would only extract the CE, Jobsbridge, FAS courses, etc then we would havecactrue picture.
Having said that looking back over past weeks there does seem to be jobs (proper ones) coming up.
Ok Lads lets deflect attention from this bloody referendubbbb
I concur with the comments about revealing the true figures. A lot of people I know that are long term unemployed have been pushed into education in September. While this is welcome, please give us a true unemployment figure. I reckon as many as 10,000 have been taken off job seekers and placed on education courses.
Ah a lovely bit of ambiguity to start the week off
34,000. How many full time jobs in that? How many off the dole. Emigration still soaring. Hardly positive when you look past the spin.
Why is IBEC called the employers group and not a union which they are?
Job bridge isn’t a job
That’s why they call it Job “Bridge” it’s a scheme for people to train and gain experience to later become employed. A lot of jobs today require that the applicant would have some experience working in that field, in some cases 2 years. It actually has been shown to be a success with over 60% of interns going on to find employment.
Richard looks like a simpleton.
Richard has a lovely smile, the dear boy!
Whew, the spin has me feeling dizzy.
That vat thing cost hundreds of millions in taxes each year , lets face it the low wage, part time seasonal jobs that where created where down to increased tourist numbers not a reduction in vat rate that was almost immediately pocketed by employers. Even noonan implied it wasn’t worth it(cost>benefit)
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