Profile: Finian McGrath (Ind)

Former inner-city primary school principal Finian McGrath (62) returns to the Dáil for a fourth term as an Independent TD, but part of the non-party Independent Alliance. When he was first elected in 2002, he stood as a member of the Independent Health Alliance. A long-term campaigner on health, disability and equality issues, he supported the 2007 Fianna Fáil-led coalition for about 18 months in return for commitments on mental health and disability services but then moved firmly into the Opposition camp. Ironically, as part of the Independent Alliance in this election campaign he accused the Government of “political snobbery” for not talking to Independents and said they would have to “chew their words” after the election. He was a leading light in the technical group of Independent TDs in the last Dáil. Based in Marino, he is widowed and has two daughters.