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Finian McGrath and Catherine Murphy are part of the Independents' Network Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Left-wing independent TDs meet today, but here's why a new party isn't happening soon

The ‘is there going to be a new political party?’ story rumbles on…

A GROUP OF left-wing independent TDs are holding a day-long seminar in Dublin later today, but the prospect of it leading to the formation of a new political party in the near future has become more remote in recent months.

The Independents’ Network will meet at the Red Cow Hotel in west Dublin today with sessions to focus on housing and debt. Among those to address the audience will be mortgage campaigner David Hall and Ballyhea Says No campaigner Diarmuid O’Flynn.

The Independents’ Network, a loose alliance of non-party candidates, saw nineteen of its 36 members – two MEPs and seventeen councillors – elected at the last local and European elections.

The grouping includes independent TDs Catherine Murphy, Thomas Pringle, John Halligan, and Finian McGrath and aims to bring together interest groups and politicians “with a view to opening policy formation up to a wider, more informed, audience”.

Its success in May’s elections fuelled talk of a new party being in the offing but comments by Halligan over the summer are said to have angered other members of the group.

In July, Halligan was quoted in a Sunday newspaper report suggesting that the group of deputies would seek to form a party later this year with the name ‘Left Alliance’ given to the prospective party.

He later distanced himself from the remarks and insisted “there’s not a party being formed and everyone knows that”. But a source said that the Waterford TD’s “solo run” had caused a lot of issues and delayed any prospect of a new party being formed.

While there is still a chance of a new political party being formed out of the Independents’ Network it is not likely to happen in the coming months, TheJournal.ie has learned.

The issue of whether or not to form a party  is expected to be discussed on the fringes of today’s meeting.

One member who won’t be attending is independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan who is believed to have distanced herself from the network in recent months.

Former TD Patrick Nulty had also been involved with the group prior to his resignation from the Dáil in March after he sent explicit messages to a 17-year-old girl.

Left Alliance? Independent TDs deny that they’re about to form a new political party

Analysis: There’s a lot of talk, but a new political party is not imminent. Here’s why…

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24 Comments
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    Mute Fozz
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:34 AM

    Who do i send the money to so they then send me back the presidency?
    That’s how it anyways works….I know as I have a guy over there with 24 million quid for me…

    97
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    Mute skin flint
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:36 AM

    I have direct email contact with the prince of Nigeria himself! I’ll try to get you a meeting if you like?

    42
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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:54 AM

    original…

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    Mute fergalreid
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:58 AM

    I’ll take anything at this stage that isn’t a comment about Irish Water.

    36
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    Mute HULK SMASH!
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:47 AM

    I won the Nigerian lottery last week so I can afford to run no probs

    73
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:42 PM

    @HULK

    Very funny.

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    Mute neimad
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:35 AM

    We all know the story, the whole planet knows the story.

    65
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    Mute skin flint
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:37 AM

    Why did i read that in al pacino’s voice?

    We aaawwl know, the stoorey. This whole damn PLANET…..knows th’ stoorey..

    16
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    Mute Owen Lynch
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:51 AM

    The 405000 Nairs no problem but you also need to be able to rig the ballot box look what happened Abiola won the election ended up in jail and somehow died.

    29
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    Mute Martin Hickey
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:39 AM

    We have just the man for ye over here top man enda kenny is he’s name, and that’s he’s monthly salary so no probs on that front.

    29
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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:45 PM

    There are corruption, suicide bombings, beheadings and mass-abduction of children in Nigeria, people are being tortured and ruled by a dictator in Zimbabwe and many women have been raped and/or murdered or have been killed by botched sterilisation procedures in India. It makes me think that the people of these countries were better off when these countries were ruled by the British.

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    Mute LiquidPaddy
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    Nov 16th 2014, 10:59 AM

    Jasus lads, you’ll give Bertie ideas now.

    19
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    Mute Anto O'Connor
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:32 AM

    Sounds like a perfect scam for Dennis obriens portfolios

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    Mute Sean
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    Nov 16th 2014, 11:14 AM

    Adonbilivit

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    Mute Declan Burke
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    Nov 16th 2014, 2:02 PM

    If your in a political party here it costs nothing to run for a European election. If your not it costs 1500.

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    Mute Leslie Skinner
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    Nov 16th 2014, 12:42 PM

    Donations can be had from Ireland

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    Mute Steven Geoghegan
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    Nov 16th 2014, 9:44 PM

    Just need your bank account details blah blah blah

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