Michael Fitzmaurice third TD to join new Independent Ireland party

Michael Fitzmaurice is to 'take the leap of faith' and join the Independent Ireland party.

Michael Fitzmaurice, the Roscommon-Galway TD, is to join the Independent Ireland party. Mr Fitzmaurice becomes the third TD to join the country's newest party, led by Cork South West TD Michael Collins.

Mr Collins said he was "delighted" that Mr Fitzmaurice would be joining the ranks of the party, which was formed last year.

“We are delighted that Michael Fitzmaurice has been willing to take the leap of faith with us and commit to building our new party," he said.

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“Michael’s integrity and knowledge, combined with his experience in national politics, makes him a great addition to our new party."

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Collins said the idea of a rural-focused party had been discussed for some time and that he and Limerick TD Richard O'Donoghue had decided to make the move due to the amount of interest from politicians and potential election candidates.

He said at the time that the party would be adding more TDs.

The general secretary of Independent Ireland, Mr O’Donoghue said the party was aiming to "build a coalition of people and politicians who genuinely want to address the real-world issues facing ordinary people across this nation".

Richard O’Donoghue said the new party 'could not have looked for a better partner' than Michael Fitzmaurice. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Mr O'Donoghue said that Independent Ireland "could not have looked for a better partner than Michael Fitz".

“Fitz’s dedication, drive, and determination come second only to his common sense approach to policy and priorities.

We have a job of work ahead of ourselves over the coming months and years to build a party not just for the next election but for future generations.

Mr Collins previously told the Irish Examiner that the party will look to fill a space in the political spectrum which he believes is under-served. 

Michael Collins said the Independent Ireland party will look to fill a space in the political spectrum. Picture: Damien Storan

He said that the party would be different from both Government and opposition parties on immigration, where he says the country has "gone beyond breaking point", and climate policies, which he says have "attacked rural living".

Having added a third TD, he said that all three men were aware of how difficult building a party would be but said he believes it is possible.

“We know how hard the road ahead is but none of the three of us are afraid of hard graft and we are confident anyone who joins our party, as a rank-and-file member, a candidate, or a sitting politician, will embody that spirit of hard work, determination, and common sense," he said.