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Updated 4.12pm
HIGH PROFILE INDEPENDENT TD Stephen Donnelly has said he will not be joining the alliance of independent deputies being put together by Shane Ross and Roscommon/South Leitrim’s Michael Fitzmaurice.
The Wicklow politician’s name has been linked with the grouping in the last week, after Ross and Fitzmaurice confirmed on RTÉ’s Prime Time that they were teaming up.
“Recently, I have had conversations with TDs involved in the Independent Alliance to explore the possibilities for such a political movement,” Donnelly said in a statement.
At this stage I have concluded that it is not something I will be joining. I believe all challenge to the stale cartel that is Irish politics is welcome, and I wish those involved luck in their endeavours.
Ross said he was surprised by Donnelly’s decision, but thinks it was spurred by his dislike of the group not having a whip system in place.
It was somewhat of a surprise because we went off together to Meath last Tuesday and we were talking to councillors and everything seemed to be going very, very well.I think maybe he thought it was going in a direction that was too loose for him, too radical for him maybe and he wishes to be part of something that is more disciplined, obviously.
“I want to see something completely and utterly new in Irish politics … the whip loosened to as far as is humanly possible,” Ross stated.
Finian McGrath, one of the TDs in the alliance, said he had ”no intention of joining a political party”.
I want to work with my colleagues in an Independent alliance … The brand Independent has to remain, that’s what people are voting for.
Ross denied he was setting up an alliance rather than a party to avoid new rules that mean having at least 30% female candidates at the next general election. No women TDs are on board yet but Ross said he “suspect[s] that we’re above the quota at the moment” due to the number of female councillors who want to join the alliance.
So, where do other Independents stand?
Donnelly’s decision today follows increasing speculation over who will and who won’t be joining the grouping.
TheJournal.ie contacted a number of TDs yesterday to ask whether they were on board…
Michael Healy-Rae (above) thinks some of his peers are being “very presumptuous” by forming a group.
“There’s an awful lot of talking going on. There’s an awful lot of politicians talking about who they won’t get into bed with. I would rather work until the last day of government and let the people decide.”
Healy-Rae said politicians might be better placed to wait and see if they’re re-elected before deciding who they who they will or won’t work with.
The Kerry TD said informal discussions about a potential alliance have been “going on a long time” at Leinster House, but he’s not too interested.
“I will be running in the next election as an independent and not as part of a group.”
Healy-Rae questioned why former Fine Gael junior minister Lucinda Creighton has ruled out running with certain parties before her new as-yet-unnamed party is fully up and running.
She should leave her options open, that’s her business … On a personal basis, she’s trying something new so the blessings of God be in her.
‘Presumptuous’
Dublin Central TD Maureen O’Sullivan agrees that “any sort of alliance is a bit presumptuous”.
A. We don’t know when the election will be and B. We don’t know who will be elected. I think it’s putting the cart before the horse.
O’Sullivan said she would have “no difficulty” listening to anyone from the alliance about their ideas but is “very hesitant to join”.
Tipperary North TD Michael Lowry also has no plans to join the group.
I have survived as an Independent since 1996 and intend to remain as an Independent … There’s a big flurry at the moment about Independents. My intention is to remain as I am.
Donegal representative Thomas Pringle said he has had no discussions with Ross or Fitzmaurice about joining the alliance, but expects to do so soon as the Dáil resumes tomorrow.
He said he would only be interested in joining the grouping if it was anti-water charges and focussed on “reversing the unfairness forced on people by Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil”. Pringle believes this can be done through reformation of the tax system and additional funding for education and health.
Left or right?
Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy said she doesn’t think her views would merge well with those of the alliance’s members as she is “centre-left” while they are “more centre-right” in terms of the economy and social issues.
Murphy added that she was “flexible about working with people in different types of formations” but would have to agree with them on issues “more than 50% of the time” in order to do so.
As for Creighton’s party, Murphy said it “wouldn’t be any surprise that we would probably be polar opposites”.
TheJournal.ie also attempted to contact Róisín Shortall and Mick Wallace prior to publication.
- additional reporting from Daragh Brophy and Hugh O’Connell
Originally published: 13 January, 21.30
The Irish politician is a social hoor…at the right price they’d jump in bed with anyone.
And we all know who ends up getting screwed.
What are we going do,put the same lot in again what ever way you want to mix them FG.LAB.FF.SF.PBP.INDS.and so on.Fair dues to the people who want to start a new party it will make it interesting, better to light a candle than cursing the darkness.
indeed..
http://i58.tinypic.com/6ym9n7.jpg
Both Lucinda’s ( Party A) and Shane’s (Party B) are both straight down the middle in terms of policy (of which neither has yet). Why can they all not join forces to make one super party. I mean they will broadly represent the same people so why not merge ? I could see a party with Ross, Donnelly, Hobbs, Creighton, Ming coming together to form a party and they would elect one leader. This party would also try to remain firm ally’s of the Independents. That is the way forward and I hope politics and policy don’t get in the way of making it happen.
Who cares to be honest once they slither in through the gates in Leinster house they all become the same regardless of the label they wore out side the gates.
Well, why don’t you run for election and change all that?!
Charles J. Ahern. Isn’t it true that you fought in the war of independence and signed off on the E-voting machines, all the while carrying on an affair with Terry Keane?
Huh?
Because Charles that would involve doing something, most people would rather moan.
Here you go bud http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/si/0369.html and here is some more info http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/national_elections/nomination_for_membership_of_dail_eireann.html was thinking I might meself as well anybody want to lend me €500 quid?
Charles, if you expect every citizen who has an opinion on anything to go into politics, who do you propose should do the hundreds of thousands of normal jobs that will then be left vacant?
‘well why don’t you the world’ is the most overused trite defense imaginable. Should we be praising Hitler? ‘sure at least he tried some new policies’
They’re all hoors who’d sell their grannies to a harem for power. When push comes to shove, the orgy will happen.
All too true Daisy. As soon as they’re within striking distance of a chance of power and perks they’ll all be conveniently forgetting what they said before the election
The joke is that leadership of this country is not actually power.
I guess you have to get elected before you fully realise that.
Even the “independents” that are in the Dáil right now are under the illusion that they will be the people re-elected, and are already discussing who they might ally with..
well there is news for all of you so called “independents that sat with closed mouths during 2014 – Is not only the 3 main parties that have to worry about their seats, it is quite a lot of you parasites as well.
the Audacity of it! – you think that because you were “independent” somehow exonerates you from the last shower of clowns we have had for nigh on 30 years?
Your silence on your watch might well get you into trouble, Beware of the new savvy Irish voter with the power of non sponsored state media,
I think this next election will bring home a lot of home truths for both big parties and independents alike..
let the blood letting begin…
Id bet Joan will think… “that’s an awful expensive phone he has”
Are still on xmas holidays ? They can’t wait to get back to fill in there expenses forms !
I wouldn’t get into bed with Mary Lou (in the political sense)
For once I agree with Michael Healy r…they are presumptions
Healy-Rae is everything wrong with irish politics. A nothing person, only in the Dáil because his father was. How the people of Kerry keep electing him I’ll never know. Then again, I’m from North tipp, and we all know the reptile that keeps getting re-elected there.
Labour have decided to jump into bed with the P45′s.
I have no time for anything to do with Michael Healy-Rae …
A lot off TD’s won’t have political employment next year particularly FG and that minor party (I can’t use their name) as they are an insult to working people..
Define “working people”!
Working people is an oxymoron: they don’t work, never worked and have no intention of working.
I don’t really buy the idea that it’s presumptuous because they don’t know if they’ll be reelected. Isn’t the point that they put themselves to the electorate as a group who might actually get into government as a group? This will have a bearing on whether or not people vote for them.
The fact about ANY T.D. in my view is that they will always do what the party tells them and they do this in the hope of becoming a minister and the reason comes down to money in my view, an over paid wage and a ridiculous pension.
Donnelly is the most credible and realistic independant TD there is. This is a significant blow to Ross et al.
I just hope Donnelly doesn’t fold and join the plebs in FF, FG or SF. He is far too good to be stuck with those clowns.
James I could not agree with you more,with ref to next election, surly we now have a situation where ” The Devil you don ‘t know is better then the devil you do know” We know what we have had over the decades, so it is worth taking a chance, after all could a collection of independents do any more damage then the main stream?
The damage is already done, so we have nothing to lose.
I was about to launch my new True Republican party, but given the negativity on here, it might be better I don’t. It seems like we’re all better off just watching other people step up.
Comrade, Sinn Fein are the only true republicans.
Not sure where Donnelly’s coming from.Catherine Murphy says the new alliance is centre right and that’s where I would have put him.
It annoys me when people make statements and then don’t elaborate. Why won’t you be joining Stephen, what’s the deal breaker? It’ll give the electorate some perspective.
One thing all politicians have in common is expenses so if they form the expenses party then they will get plenty volunteers.
I find myself agreeing with a Healy-Rae.
This disturbs me.
A National Government is the better option, one TD, one vote open and transparent so that the people who voted for them can judge them on their record. This forces the elected to stick by their promises more closely.
I get sick to my stomach watching the ‘Opposition’ (Fianna Fail) give out about the state of the health system when it’s Michael Martin we have to thank for the HSE and lest we not forget the 64billion white elephant on our shoulders.
Running scared
‘Radical’ politics in Ireland = the same old faces changing the whip system a bit.
Here we go, bickering among the independents. Get it together guys, quit with the petty spats, or you’ll look like a joke by the next election.
Great photo of Stephen Donnelly and Shane Ross at the start of the article.
And so does the electorate not more of the same cronies,spouting crap,we want change,but the right kind of change,and of course abolish Irish Water is first thing on the menu
At first glance of the thumbnail pic I thought it was Angus young.
Said crap, gigs off! !!
Some people are just not cut out for the possibility of governing, and to be put in a position where they would actually have to take decisions and make choices! They would prefer to be hurlers on the ditch, forever.
Donnelly needs to link up with the Trots and get them to join in with Shane Ross, Lucinda, and the rest in a proper policy led alternative based on honesty and integrity in politics to give to give us a fresh coherent start, making a complete break with the past. We need ideas though for a name for the new outfit.
Why would you link Creighton with honesty and integrity? She’s done nothing but prevaricate since she left FG.
That’s not fair. Lucinda has only had 18 months so far to figure out her policy positions. It will take her at least another year to reach agreement with all the other independents never mind having to think up a name for the party.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Booooooorrrrrrriiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggggg……..
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