Shortall: There’s a need for new party

Plans for a new centre-left party are believed to be close to completion amid private talks between leading Independent TDs and figures outside Leinster House.

TD Róisín Shortall last night confirmed it was still her opinion there was scope for a new centre-left party ahead of the next general election.

Amid speculation that an election could now be called as early as the autumn, sources in Leinster House suggested the former Labour minister was in private talks with Independents Stephen Donnelly and Catherine Murphy.

Ms Shortall would not confirm if she was in talks with anyone about a new party being formed.

However, she told the Irish Examiner: “There’s no doubt there is a need for a new party — a party that would espouse very clear values, that would commit to do what they have committed to do and put integrity at the centre of politics. There’s a lot of disillusionment out there. There’s a lot of people looking for positive options of who they can vote for in the next election.”

It has also emerged that Ross Maguire, co-founder of mortgage support group New Beginning, is also being lined up to act as a legal advisor for the party.

Both Ms Murphy and Mr Donnelly did not return calls night.

It is believed the new political organisation could seek to be registered within a month.

A source familiar with the talks said: “The Dáil is fairly grim, there’s a need for political reform. There are elected and non-elected people being talked to.”

It is thought that some of the policies of the new centre-left party will focus on community issues, social justice campaigning, and political reform.