McDowell: I won’t be at Reform group rally

Former tánaiste Michael McDowell has said he has “no association” with the Reform Alliance and will not attend their rally at the RDS later this month.

Mr McDowell, a founding member of the Progressive Democrats, said he would welcome the support of the breakaway Fine Gael TDs and senators for Democracy Matters, his campaign group for Seanad reform.

The organisation, made up mostly of academics and past and present politicians, announced new plans to push for reform of the Upper House, 100 days after voters decided in a referendum that it should not be abolished.