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It could be nine months before Independents agree on policies --- Michael Fitzmaurice

The man hoping to bring together a new political force in Irish politics dropped by, on his way to meet a potential future candidate…

TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Updated at 2.30pm

MICHAEL FITZMAURICE — THE recently elected TD hoping to put together a loose alliance of independent politicians — has said it could be nine months before nascent group agrees on a full set of policies.

The Roscommon/South Leitrim deputy — who claimed the Dáil seat vacated by Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan in a by-election last October — has a busy schedule of meetings on the project this week, and further developments are expected in the next few days.

Fitzmaurice dropped in for an interview at TheJournal.ie HQ this morning on his way to a meeting with Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, who’s considering joining the as-yet-unnamed alliance.

The plan came together after Shane Ross contacted him over Christmas, the TD said.

Since then, he’s been busy fielding calls from potential candidates and reckons he now has a list of 12 people willing to run in the next General Election.

Some of them “aren’t even in politics”.

Fitzmaurice spoke to us about the mooted “core principles” being considered by the group, the potential speedbumps they’re likely to face before the country goes to the polls, and the ’1am conversations’ he’s been having about the future of the country…

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Read: Shane Ross says his new alliance will ‘absolutely uproot politics in this country’

Read: Christy Burke wants to team up with Ming’s successor … maybe

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