Independent Alliance unveils county councillors for election

The newly-formed Independent Alliance which expects to have 20 candidates in place for the general election yesterday unveiled new hopefuls who have joined its ranks.

The putative alliance leader Shane Ross said there would be no manifesto but only principles agreed ahead of an election, and that members would have no whip enforced in Dáil votes.

Six sitting councillors and a journalist announced yesterday they would run under the alliance banner. The movement hopes to capitalise on rising support for Independents, with polls showing more than one in five voters prepared to support such candidates.

Veteran senator Feargal Quinn said he would be parliamentary chairman for the alliance but would not seek a Dáil seat. He said he would help guide the alliance, whose principles he supported. The alliance signalled there would be 10 core principles for members which include stripping politicians of powers in making appointments, reviving rural Ireland, and removing obstacles for women.

Mr Ross said up to 20 candidates would be unveiled when the movement officially launches in the autumn. It would “not be rushed” with a pending election, he added.

While the alliance breached Leinster House rules by getting the county councillors — non-Oireachtas members — to speak on the plinth yesterday, Mr Ross disagreed that the move was a sign of things to come.

Renua leader Lucinda Creighton with her husband, Paul Bradford, who will stand for his wife’s party in Cork East.

He also ruled out the alliance “propping up” any future coalition.

“We’re not a party which is going to bind every member. The idea of the alliance is members will be independent. They will stand together in the Dáil on 10 principles.”

The five TDs and one senator attached to the alliance unveiled some of its election candidates yesterday. They include journalist Carol Hunt (Dun Laoghaire, Dublin), and councillors Kevin Callan (Louth), Deirdre O’Donovan (Dublin South West), Lorna Nolan (Dublin West), Sean Canney (East Galway), Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath), and Niamh Kennedy (Donegal).

Meanwhile, Renua Ireland has announced two candidates to run in the election. Ex-TD, Senator Paul Bradford whose wife Lucinda Creighton is leader of Renua- will contest Cork East.

Councillor Patrick McKee, who failed to win a seat in the recent Carlow-Kilkenny by-election, will again stand.