OTHERS:Election will see some politicians from main parties running as Independent candidates, writes MICHAEL O'REGAN, Parliamentary Correspondent
TWO OF the eight outgoing Independent TDs, Mary Harney, formerly of the now defunct PDs, and Jackie Healy-Rae, are retiring.
Healy-Rae’s son, Michael, has replaced him on the ticket in Kerry South, where the line-up includes two other Independent candidates, Tom Fleming, formerly of Fianna Fáil, and Michael Gleeson, who parted ways with Labour many years ago.
Michael Lowry TD, who with Jackie Healy-Rae supported the outgoing Government in return for constituency projects, is running again in Tipperary North.
Finian McGrath TD is seeking a third Dáil term in Dublin North Central, while Maureen O’Sullivan TD will be aiming to retain the seat in Dublin Central which she won in a byelection following the death of Tony Gregory.
Joe Behan TD joined the Independent benches when he resigned from Fianna Fáil over the withdrawal of the automatic entitlement of the over-70s to medical cards. He is seeking re-election in Wicklow, where Independents Stephen Donnelly and Peter Dempsey are also running.
Noel Grealish TD, Galway West, began the 30th Dáil as a PD, and, although it was rumoured for a time that he might join Fianna Fáil, he has remained an Independent since his former party was wound up.
Former Labour councillor Catherine Connolly is standing in the same constituency as an Independent.
Tipperary South’s Mattie McGrath began his Dáil term as a Fianna Fáil TD, but he disagreed with the Government on a number of issues and voted against it. It was no surprise when he recently announced that he was running as an Independent.
The United Left Alliance, made up of People Before Profit Alliance, Socialist Party and the Workers and Unemployed Act Group, is fielding more than 20 candidates in the general election.
The group includes former TDs Joe Higgins MEP, who is running in Dublin West, and Séamus Healy, who is contesting Tipperary South.
Richard Boyd Barrett, who polled well in the last election, is running again in Dún Laoghaire. Clare Daly is renewing her attempts to win in Dublin North.
Among the other alliance candidates are Mick Barry in Cork North Central, Joan Collins in Dublin South Central and Gino Kenny in Dublin Mid-West.
Former TDs James Breen in Clare and Catherine Murphy in Kildare North are also running again as Independents.
Author and Senator Shane Ross is contesting Dublin South, while Paul Sommerville, who has worked in the financial markets in London and Tokyo, is running in Dublin South East.
Other Independent candidates include Mayor of Roscommon Luke “Ming” Flanagan, Keith Redmond in Dublin North East, Seán Canney in Galway East and Joe Conway in Waterford.
HOW THEY FARED IN 2007
VOTE PERCENTAGE:6.6%
SEATS: 5