A NEW referendum on abortion is the very least any new government would have to concede if it wanted the support of any members of the Christian Solidarity Party who might be elected to the next Dail.
The party has six candidates standing in the next election and is still seeking nominees. The president of the party, Dr Gerard Casey, a candidate in Dun Laoghaire, said he hoped the party would have eight or nine candidates.
A new political party was necessary because of the radical shift that had taken place in Ireland, according to Dr Casey. He told a press conference in Dublin yesterday that where once the family had been seen as the basis of society, the emphasis was now on the autonomous individual.
Without debate, a philosophy unfavourable to the family and to local communities had been incorporated into political and economic policy and reflected in laws. This had serious implications which were addressed by the Christian Solidarity Party, he said. The party had a full range of policies, from agriculture to finance, from justice to education.
The party wanted to inspire and strengthen Irish society with Christian social thinking.
He said it was funded by the donations of individuals and members. There were no "sinister American organisations" funding the party, contrary to allegations made by some Fianna Fail members in Dun Laoghaire.
The party has about 1,000 members in 40 to 50 branches around the country, according to Dr Casey.
The Christian Solidarity Party has candidates in Cavan Monaghan, Sligo Leitrim, Clare, Meath, Cork North Central and Dun Laoghaire.