Fitzmaurice 'to start new political party'

Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice is to start a new political party, it has been reported.

The Sunday Independent reports that the Roscommon-South Leitrim TD plans on running 25 candidates in the next election.

The Government are mandated to go to the people by April 2016, but there is speculation that an election could be called as early as next year.

According to the newspaper, the rise in support for independents means Deputy's Fitzmaurice's new group could pose a threat to the larger parties.

Deputy Fitzmaurice is a turf contracter, and won his seat in the October by-election.

TDs Lucinda Creighton and Shane Ross are both also thought to be considering setting up their own political groups.

Deputy Fitzmaurice later confirmed his intentions, saying: “It’s fairness to everybody, and listening to people, because there’s a disconnect at the moment,

“And I’m not having a go at any government – there’s been a disconnect in Irish politics for the last 10, 15, 20 years.

“If you ask somebody today: ‘Who has done something good in the past 20 years?’, not too many people will throw out a name.

“Let’s start now producing politicians that people will say ‘They were good for their country, and they were good for all the people’.”