Independent Alliance to speak with new TDs

The Independent Alliance will begin canvassing newly elected TDs to join them in a move that would bolster the group’s bargaining power in any talks about supporting a government.

Members of the alliance met in Leinster House yesterday, welcoming its newer TDs, and agreed to open talks with other parties for a “radical” but “responsible” government.

Dublin-Rathdown TD Shane Ross, its putative leader, and Roscommon-Galway’s Michael Fitzmaurice received permission at the alliance meeting to approach other Independents about cooperating in any government talks or being linked to the group.

The Irish Examiner understands that the alliance hopes to attract the interest of several rural TDs, including newly elected Cork South West TD Michael Collins, Clare’s Michael Harty, the returning Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath, and Donegal’s Thomas Pringle.

In a statement, the alliance said six of its members had been returned, including Dublin Bay North’s Finian McGrath, who pipped Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin for the last seat. While Mr McGrath did not make the meeting, newly elected TDs Sean Canney of Galway East and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran of Longford-Westmeath were welcomed by the group.

“The members resolved to act responsibly in the interests of the entire nation in all negotiations over the form-ation of a new government. The group is open to discussions with political parties prepared to implement its ‘charter for change’ and to commit to a full programme of Dáil reform.

“The alliance agreed to broader discussions with other Independents interested in creating a radical but responsible government,” it stated.

Senator Gerard Craughwell, a member of the alliance, said: “I think we [the country] are in an awful mess. If I were to read the outcome of election, the public have said a plague on all your houses and go and find a way to work together.”

Mr Fitzmaurice said the alliance had not been approached by the bigger parties yet about any government formations. “There is a responsibility on the bigger parties to open talks now,” he said.

The alliance will regroup on Monday, ahead of the first day of the 32nd Dail on March 10, where any options about government formations will be formally discussed.

Mr Ross has insisted that the alliance members will not engage in “pork barrel politics” with a list of local constituency demands in exchange for supporting a government.

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