Gormley warns of Independent ‘mé féinism’

THE Green Party have warned of voters opting for Independent candidates and of the next government having to pander to the needs of individuals with “narrow” agendas.

With polls suggesting Fine Gael might only need just a few TDs to form a government, the Greens raised concerns about independents holding the country to ransom through a system of “mé féinism”.

Some 223 independents nationwide are set to contest the election this year compared to 108 in 2007.

The numbers standing are greater than the amount of candidates running across all the main parties and make up just over half of the total 564 people going for election.

Green Party leader John Gormley named independents who he claimed had demanded pet projects from the last government and said other European governments had no such arrangements.

“If a group of so-called independents were to hold the balance of power in government, our ability to get ourselves out of the current difficulties would be stymied.”

Speaking in Dublin at the launch of the party’s political broadcast, airing this evening, Mr Gormley said that independents in the last government had sought unreasonable demands.

“We’ve had ex-Fine Gael Michael Lowry pushing for his Las Vegas-style Casino in Tipperary and we’ve had Jackie Healy-Rae irresponsibly holding the country to ransom during our economic crisis.”

The former government partner hit out at plans by independent candidates seeking election this time around.

Dublin South candidate Shane Ross wanted to reduce the corporation tax rate from 12.5% to 10% which would create an additional €800 million hole in the economy, he claimed.

Referring to pressure from EU neighbours over raising the already low rate, Mr Gormley added: “This is nonsensical whimsy and dangerous to Ireland’s taxpayers and our international reputation.”

Party colleague Eamon Ryan claimed there were no such governments that relied on the support of independents in countries such as Germany or in Scandinavian states.

Mr Gormley admitted that his party’s candidates would be battling it out with Fianna Fáil on voting day for the last seat in constituencies.