Creighton’s denials dubbed ‘amusing’ by Fine Gael's Flanagan

Claims by rebel TD Lucinda Creighton that she does not intend to use a one-day conference by her Reform Alliance grouping as the springboard for a new party have been ridiculed by Fine Gael top brass.

Fine Gael chair Charlie Flanagan said he found the Dublin South East TD’s denials “amusing” as plans emerged for the 500-seater event at the RDS later this month.

Ms Creighton — who was expelled from the Fine Gael parliamentary party after voting against X Case legislation — has invited Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the event — but doubts he will show up.

People wishing to attend the conference on Jan 25 can register on the group’s website, but Ms Creighton is adamant she is not setting up a centre-right party to rival Fine Gael.

“That’s not the purpose, we are trying to engage with people and trying to provide an opportunity for new thinking and new ideas.

“A range of people will be coming to facilitate discussion and to challenge the accepted wisdom about the way we do politics and the economic recovery,” Ms Creighton said.

She said Mr kenny would be welcome — but only if he acted on political reform instead of just talking about it.

Mr Flanagan said he hoped the rebels could find a way back to the Fine Gael fold — but that was unlikely to happen if they stood under another banner.

“I find it somewhat amusing, it sounds like they are, and looks like they are — but they keep telling us it’s not a new party,” he said.

“I regret the fact we lost some colleagues in the course of the year and would still like to see a situation where Fine Gael could accommodate them again.”

Wicklow deputy Billy Timmings, speaking for the Reform Alliance — which is made up of five former Fine Gael TDs and two senators — insisted that a break-away party was not in the offing.

“We are a small group of like-minded people brought together by certain circumstances and we want to operate as a group in a positive and progressive manner,” he said.

“It is not about getting candidates, it is not about establishing a new party, it is what it is — a one-day conference.”

The Reform Alliance has registered with the Standards in Public Office Commission as a “third party” in a bid to allow it to raise funding, but the move does not establish it as a distinct political organisation. It said it was only interested in gaining extra speaking rights in the Dáil when it was formed last September.