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Lucinda Creighton TD Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Creighton “not involved” in talks on new political party

The Fine Gael ‘rebels’ who were expelled from the parliamentary party are in talks about getting speaking rights – but will they form a new party?

ARE FINE GAEL ‘rebels’ in talks to form a new political party?

Lucinda Creighton told TheJournal.ie that she was “not involved” in talks about a new party, despite reports in today’s Sunday Times that she is leading moves to form one.

Creighton said “I’m not involved in such talks” when asked about the article.

The Sunday Times reports that Creighton, who was expelled from the party and resigned from her seat as European Affairs Minister after she voted against the government on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013, is looking to form a new socially conservative party.

It says that TDs Creighton, Billy Timmins, Brian Walsh, Terence Flanagan, Peter Mathews and Senator Paul Bradford are all involved in talks.

However, Deputy Timmins told TheJournal.ie that the issue of a new party is not one that he has a definitive answer to – and that like anything in politics, he can’t say yes or no.

Talks

Deputy Billy Timmons. Pic: James Horan/Photocall Ireland

Timmins confirmed that he and the other expelled Fine Gael TDs have been in talks about their future in the party, but said that “the only thing we’ve looked at is trying to work together as a group in the Dáil”.

They are doing this, he explained, to discuss how they can get speaking rights, which they do not have as expelled members of a parliamentary party.

Timmins said he has a motion down for mention that looks at trying to get speaking rights for the expelled members – this would involve enabling a second Technical Group to be formed through a change to standing orders, said the Sunday Times.

The TD said that is “as far as it goes” and that the individuals are looking to work together as a group. They “have met and we have decided that we are better trying to work collaboratively as opposed to individually”, he said.

They want to progress that and see how they can “get recognition in the Dáil as [a] cohesive [group]“, he explained. They are “hopeful” that the government will recognise their request.

“As it stands we don’t even have… we can’t even go cap in hand to ask for speaking time,” he pointed out.

Timmins said that the last few months have shown him “never rule anything in or out in politics”.

“I never thought I’d be expelled from Fine Gael for sticking to core values,” said Deputy Timmins.

That doesn’t mean to say yes or say no [to a new party]. It is only a few weeks since we were expelled. We are not rushing.

He said that the changes in going from being a member of the parliamentary party to being outside it are “not tangible when the Dáil isn’t sitting”, and that he has sent the Secretary General two letters to establish on a legal basis what the restrictions on him are.

First published 14.42

Read: These are the 31 TDs who voted against the abortion bill>

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Read: Taoiseach asked me to resign: Lucinda Creighton>

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123 Comments
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    Mute Toddimus Maximus
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    Jul 19th 2015, 9:21 AM

    23 years of age. Hope it works out for him. Met a 15 year old on the streets of Dublin last Sunday evening. I sat and chatted. He seemed to enjoy the company. On the street through no fault of his own either, lovely kid and clearly a fighter

    1008
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    Mute myownboss
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    Jul 19th 2015, 9:25 AM

    Nobody should be on the streets, but at 15 God help him to be in such a vulnerable position. Fair play for not just walking past.

    640
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    Mute Very fond of
    Favourite Very fond of
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    Jul 19th 2015, 9:25 AM

    I’m unemployed and can work hard. Currently undergoing the day/week/year from hell … Any chances?

    475
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    Mute Patrick Cox
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    Jul 19th 2015, 10:08 AM

    FairPlay very fond of,
    Why all the red , no harm in trying anyway possible.

    179
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    Mute Very fond of
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    Jul 19th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Thank you Patrick – guess all the red thumbers don’t have any vacancies/opportunities

    224
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    Mute A B
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    Jul 19th 2015, 10:37 AM

    Might not suit but I worked in a call centre before and they’re always hiring especially in sales positions because people get sick of it quick. Target based and can be stressful but Base salary and commission usually.. I worked in a Cork office but I know there’s plenty around the country.. They’ll hire based on motivation and interview alone and where I worked at least no qualification needed. I didn’t mind the work at all but not for everyone!

    142
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    Mute ☆♬Andrew Byrne ♬☆
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    Jul 19th 2015, 10:50 AM

    Ignore all the red thumbs Very Fond Of. They’re just internet trolls wishing nothing better to do. Hope you find something soon. I was made redundant after 12 years and found it hard to find work but after 10 months I finally got something. Wasn’t my ideal job and barely paid me for travelling to and from but after 6 months I applied to another job I really wanted and wishing 2 days had a response for an interview and landed that job. Been in it now almost 10 months and still love it. What I’m saying is take what you can then look if not happy because it’s much easier to get a job when already in one.

    155
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    Mute Very fond of
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    Jul 19th 2015, 11:44 AM

    The “hell” that I mention above is only partly due to job/money issues. Other traumas this year also. Anyways – thanks for the contributions A B and Andrew .

    99
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    Mute Tallaght two
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    Jul 19th 2015, 11:45 AM

    @very fond of. what skills do you have? it would be useful to know what industry suits.

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    Mute fuve
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    Jul 19th 2015, 9:48 AM

    You should check to see if he is one of those missing kids and contact right people. Goodfor that young man in uUK hope all goes right for him now.

    183
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    Mute fuve
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    Jul 19th 2015, 9:59 AM

    P.s good on that young lad for tweeting it. :)

    170
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    Mute HRH The Brummie
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    Jul 19th 2015, 10:23 AM

    Hunger is a great source, in the sense he got on with what he had to do with the tools he had available and it worked. I would employ someone with that much enthusiasm and commitment. Hope it works out for you and your new employer.

    87
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    Mute Gavin Redmond
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    Jul 19th 2015, 11:54 AM

    I heard our government piss on about all the plans they have in place to tackle the crisis on this issue. Once again all looks good on paper.

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    Mute James Mc Loughlin
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    Jul 19th 2015, 12:53 PM

    Gavin Redmond you are right all plans and no jobs.there are plenty of jobs if you are mad enough to accept twenty euros on top of your social welfare.then you have to consider bus fares meals irregular hours.They allow you to work twenty hours a week..but employers are jumping on the wagon and your twenty hours are worked out over five days.This means you are cut off the social welfare.In other words you are working for npothing what ever happened to enda kennys five point plan .AS YOU SAY ALL PAPER AND NO DEACENT JOBS

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    Mute Jack DaCosta
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    Jul 19th 2015, 11:08 AM

    Homeless kids being sent to school, homeless teenagers sent to college, homeless women finding husbands, homeless men getting jobs, cash offers from all over.
    Think I’ll give up my grotty bedsit and head out on the streets.
    Better prospects all round.

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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Jul 19th 2015, 11:20 AM

    No milk for the coffee, then. doesn’t it just suck?

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    Mute Jack DaCosta
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    Jul 19th 2015, 11:43 AM

    Coffee is coffee.
    And tobacco is tobacco.

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    Mute Fergal Kelly
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    Jul 19th 2015, 12:45 PM

    You’re some tool Jack

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    Mute Barry Walsh
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    Jul 19th 2015, 1:54 PM

    My grandad was right, hunger is the best sauce!

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Jul 19th 2015, 5:08 PM

    you know that’s not actually about motivation right?

    12
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