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MOVES ARE BEING made to create a new alliance of independent TDs and disaffected and former Labour TDs for the purposes of speaking rights in the Dáil, but there have been no formal discussions as yet.
TheJournal.ie has learned that contrary to a number of reports yesterday and at the weekend, there have been no formal discussions about the creation of a new political party, but a number of independent TDs have acknowledged a need for an alternative movement.
It is also understood that moves are afoot to create a new Dáil technical grouping but this faces significant hurdles with current standing orders preventing the existence of more than one such group.
Independent TD John Halligan cooled speculation about the possibility of a new party when contacted yesterday.
He said: “No formal meetings have taken place. But we would have informal chats among ourselves and that’s how it stands. Can something happen? It might, but we’ve had no meetings with former Labour TDs.”
His fellow independent, Thomas Pringle said he has had no discussions with former Labour TDs but said there is “a need for an alternative and there is an opening for it”.
“I don’t know if that’s a political party because they very quickly become about sustaining a political party,” the Donegal South West TD said. “There may be some sort of alliance or association or something that might be possible, without the full structures of a political party.”
Former junior health minister Róisín Shortall, who is outside the Labour parliamentary party, is understood to be among those orchestrating moves to create a new grouping for the purposes of speaking rights in the Dáil.
She remains a member of Labour but recently admitted she is considering this position. The Dublin North West deputy and other Labour TDs who have left the parliamentary party or quit altogether currently have no speaking rights during debates in the Dáil.
They are also not allowed to join the existing Dáil Technical Group or create a second technical grouping.
However this website understands that moves are afoot to attract enough members of the current Technical Group to a new grouping – involving the likes of former Labour chairman Colm Keaveney, Patrick Nulty, Tommy Broughan and Shortall – in the hope that their numbers would dwarf the remaining members of the Technical Group.
A Dáil Technical Group must comprise of a majority of non-aligned (i.e. no party affiliation) members in order to be recognised and have speaking rights in Dáil debates.
The belief is that if enough of the current Technical Group were to leave and join another grouping, involving former and disaffected Labour TDs, then Dáil authorities would designate this to be the only technical group entitled to speaking rights during debates.
“A realignment of the Technical Group may emerge,” a source, who declined to be identified, said. “So is it likely that Roisin Shortall will be taking Leaders’ Questions next year? It’s very possible.”
Both Halligan and Pringle said they would be open to discussions about a new alliance should they be approached but Halligan, a TD for Waterford, was cautious about the possibility of joining a new fully-fledged political party.
“I was elected and I stood as an independent and I want to keep my independent stance but that would not rule out working closely with other TDs,” he said.
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Looks like great craic in fairness
@Lad: cant wait
@Lad: I heard the sound was awful.
@Toon Army: you heard from a third party, or you know
@Toon Army: I was there in the stands. It was a struggle to hear what he was saying whatever way the sound was set up. Great gig all the same.
@James Gorman: Jezzussss I hate his music
Best night ever. Voice gone. Feet sore. Brilliant. GARTH FOREVER
@Claire Walsh: Iam not a Garth fan claire. But ye deffo sound like someone that enjoyed the experience and that’s what its all about.
In my hometown of Ardee tonight a bunch of local musicians all gave our time up to support the SOSAD charity.
I hope everyone at the Brooks gig had a good night, but I know that everyone who paid their hard earned cash to support an amazing charity had a brilliant night.
Support local musicians.
@Garren Bellew: fair play, brilliant to support local over this boomer country crap
@Sean Stevenson: So as a country we just support local musicians and never have big concerts ?
@Bernard Mc Grath: that’s what you took from this, is it? Sad little unicorn.
@Sean Stevenson: thanks Sean. It’s a drop on the ocean. But incredibly worthwhile. I can confirm there were no Garth Brooks fans in the vicinity!
Something good. Welcome to the best country in the world. Now I’m getting overwhelmed. Good stuff Garth
@Mick Hyland: The best country in the world ????Have you not been watching the news of late ??
@Brian Byrne: ah go away with your negativity. The whole world is a shambles…just let us have this. We are great.
@Andy O’B: And that’s exactly the attitude that has us where we are …
@Mick Hyland: The best country,,your funny Man!
Garth Brookes was fantastic tonight, unfortunately, the organisation at Croke Park was absolutely abysmal. People that queued from 5pm missed his opening. Signs were wrong, ladies toilets needed a walk of fifteen minutes (before the queue for the actual toilets) and another fifteen minutes to get back inside the stadium. With the bottleneck getting in, I’d dread to think what would happen if there was a fire or emergency. The concert was 100% brilliant, the entrances, exits and crowd design was so poor it was scary!
@Grainne Kelly: No worries it should be sorted by the 5th show. Lol
@Grainne Kelly: don’t agree Grainne. I was there also this evening and didn’t experience any of this. I didn’t queue from 5pm, it was 6pm when we arrived at Croke Park and we were lucky to enter quickly with no issues at all. Staff on-site were very friendly and in my experience this evening were more than happy to help and direct with any questions
@Geraldine Brady: you just said you were lucky, which means your experience of getting in was not the norm. And she actually didn’t mention issues with staff being unfriendly or unhelpful so it’s a bit odd that that’s what you focused on. I for one believe Grainne.
@Marie Broomfield: nothing odd about it Marie – we had no issues what so ever last night in getting in, getting out, going to thr bathroom or getting drinks… nada!!
@Grainne Kelly: we arrived at half 6, strolled in no bother, no queues for drinks and I thought everything was very well laid out and run. I’d say the problem was the amount of people who left it very late to leave the pubs in the city and all tried to get in at the same time.
@Grainne Kelly: I didn’t arrived until well after 6pm. Had time to use the ladies, queue for a drink and I still saw him come on stage. Staff were great.
You could probably enjoy tomorrow night in the Brazen Head with the Rye River Band just as much
@Don Knox: they’re still on the go?
@Don Knox: or Seamus, Barney and Victor in the Hairy Lemon on Sunday night
@Don Knox: You could also just by-pass this article without passing any comment and …..well …. That’s just it.
@Robert John: maybe just maybe he’s advertising the brazen head? Who knows. I doubt it but you can have done the same ie by- pass said article.
@Dearbhla O Reilly: Yes, they’re still on the go. But they’ve many line-up changes over the years. A bit like Triggers sweeping brush.
But great to see in recent years they’ve had an influx of new, young up and coming talent like Don.
Great article! Congratulations. Perfectly written and you caught the mood just right.
Good show, top class entertainment
Hes wiping those tears with €500 euro notes
Brokeback mountain
As good as it was in 97! Loved every second of it.
Met him once years ago before he became famous at a wedding in the US. A really nice man back then. Hope he hasn’t changed. He sang a few songs for the wedding.
Brilliant concert from start to finish. If your a fan of his music you won’t be disappointed.
Hope he was paid enough
Made to go by the missus, was dreading it. Was brilliant and only knew about 3 songs. 80 per cent of it is who you are with. Enjoy whoever going today or another day.
While I roll my eyes at that headline and his declarations of love for thr Irish, gawd, that was such a well written account. Good job.
Wahoo 5 in a row
Not my type of music at all, but I hope everyone enjoyed their night and the rest of the concerts are a roaring success
Hernia alert
I’m getting very emotional reading this…
I think his wallet in his jeans pocket was digging in and hurting his back.
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