Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

TD Michael Fitzmaurice The Journal

'Not just another protest party': TD Michael Fitzmaurice joins Independent Ireland party

Independent Ireland was registered as a new political party late last year.

INDEPENDENT TD MICHAEL Fitzmaurice has joined new political party Independent Ireland, bringing its numbers to three TDs. 

The TD for Roscommon-Galway announced today that he was joining the party set up in November 2023 by Cork South West TD Micheal Collins and Limerick TD Richard O’Donoghue.

In a statement Fitzmaurice said he has spent the last year weighing up whether to leave politics or set up a new party, but after extensive negotiations with Collins and O’Donoghue decided to join them.

“Independent Ireland will be contesting upcoming elections with detailed election manifestos. We have great people doing great work right across the country,” Fitzmaurice said.

Fitzmaurice has been a TD since 2014 when he won a by-election brought about by Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan’s departure for Europe. At the time, he was endorsed by Flanagan.

One of Independent Ireland’s stated core priorities as a party is to tackle “government waste, mismanagement and overspend”.

Its website highlights non-governmental organisations, Ukraine funding, the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), foreign aid, and HSE overspend as areas of top concern.

The party has also pledged to freeze and reform the carbon tax if elected. 

Rural TDs 009_90627789 Independent Ireland party leader Micheal Collins. Sam Boal Sam Boal

“We are the party of common sense solutions for this and future generations.

“But it takes good people, willing to take a leap of faith, leave the cosy ranks of the independent benches or establishment parties and commit to doing the hard work of building something new,” Fitzmaurice said. 

Independent Ireland leader, Michael Collins welcomed Fitzmaurice to the party and said:

“It is our sincere hope that when we publish our various policy papers and manifestos that more people and politicians will see that what we are building is a real alternative to the establishment parties. Not just another protest party.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
72 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Red Squirrel
    Favourite Red Squirrel
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 8:53 AM

    photo caption should read Seoul, South Korea not Seoul, North Korea

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ace
    Favourite Ace
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 8:44 AM

    I have booked a pub crawl trip for St Patricks Day 2018 to North Korea (Seriously).

    A war would be very inconvenient for my travel plans.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Power
    Favourite Mick Power
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:25 AM

    They’re some lads for the parades alright.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Keegan
    Favourite Ryan Keegan
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 9:05 AM

    How crazy is it that a place like North Korea exists in 2017!!! They obviously do not care about ‘sanctions’- so how do you deal with them?

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Flood
    Favourite Martin Flood
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 9:08 AM

    The same could be said about a lot of Middle Eastern and African countries.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Keegan
    Favourite Ryan Keegan
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:41 AM

    @Martin Flood: I agree. Nobody should be starving or in slavery in 2017.

    18
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B9xiRspG
    Favourite B9xiRspG
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:54 AM

    @Martin Flood: Middle East had oil so that’s why you see a lot of invasions to save the people.

    I don’t remember too many invasions of African countries to save the people, probably because they don’t have oil. Rwandan genocide is a prime example.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Driscoll
    Favourite John O'Driscoll
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 11:13 PM

    Fat Boy doesn’t have to worry about sanctions. He and his favoured ones get all the Camembert and Chateau Petrus they want to keep them happy. And everyone else doesn’t care because they wouldn’t be getting any with or without sanctions.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Crant
    Favourite The Crant
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:33 AM

    How many Irish ministers are going to North Korea for Paddy’s day?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Favourite Micheal S. O' Ceilleachair
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:37 AM

    The problem is China will always back North Korea.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Fay
    Favourite Keith Fay
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 8:38 AM

    It’s time to remove north korea. Pack of idiots.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ryan Keegan
    Favourite Ryan Keegan
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 9:07 AM

    @Keith Fay: how do you propose we do this? Without killing 24 million people…

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy Wallace
    Favourite Andy Wallace
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 11:32 AM

    @Keith Fay: We are already killing them slowly with global sanctions. The little fat dear leader isn’t hurt by famine his people are.

    17
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Yenreit
    Favourite Yenreit
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 12:28 PM

    @Keith Fay: Good man Keith. You lead the way.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Fay
    Favourite Keith Fay
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 12:51 PM

    Haha. Nah you’re right they’re grand.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Coveney
    Favourite Stephen Coveney
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 2:38 PM

    @Andy Wallace:

    your right…. the arms embargo on north korea are starving the civilian population

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Jones
    Favourite Kieran Jones
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:11 AM

    Nuke ‘em. Do it now.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute B9xiRspG
    Favourite B9xiRspG
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 10:59 AM

    @Kieran Jones: And the fall out? I don’t think Japan and South Korea would appreciate that.

    Less not forget North Korea ally – China, one of the world’s most powerful nuclear powers. Even if they don’t retaliate the fall out would effect them as well and they produce a hell of a lot of items for world markets. Fancy your kid playing with a toy from China after the fall out?

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy Wallace
    Favourite Andy Wallace
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 11:33 AM

    @Kieran Jones: Go back to your PlayStation.

    6
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Yenreit
    Favourite Yenreit
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 12:29 PM

    @Kieran Jones: Kieran, you do know reality is very different from your XBox world?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Driscoll
    Favourite John O'Driscoll
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 11:17 PM

    Kieran I know how you feel we were all waiting for “Duke Nukem Forever” for like, forever. But the studio says it’ll be done when it’s done, last time I looked. Which was about 2003…Kieran’s clearly still a believer..

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BERTIE
    Favourite BERTIE
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 12:56 PM

    If there was ever a case for dropping the big one and wiping out a nation, North Korea must be it

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Holmes
    Favourite Mike Holmes
    Report
    Mar 7th 2017, 8:13 PM

    They have legalised cannabis in North Korea!!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds