Eclectic group adds spice to opposition

INDEPENDENT TDs are the only political grouping who have been represented in every Dáil since independence was achieved in 1922.

While they have often played important roles in government by holding the balance of power, they have never been so important in opposition as they will in the Dáil term that starts today.

Yesterday, a disparate array of 16 individual TDs, who won seats on a wide range of policy platforms, came together to form the second biggest grouping in opposition.