Former union boss Brendan Ogle to launch political party

Ex-chief of ESB unions concerned about the political direction country is taking

Brendan Ogle: “There is no party to represent a broad, progressive, human rights base.” Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

Former secretary of the ESB group of unions Brendan Ogle has said he is going to launch a new political party in September.

Mr Ogle made his announcement on The Sunday Show on TV3.

He was unable to say if there were any “high profile” people within the group involved in the formation of the party.

He said the party would have a mission statement.

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"Everyone will follow the right to change policy platform," he added. "We are ruling out a coalition with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael and looking for a separation of Church and State."

Mr Ogle said he was a “concerned citizen” who was worried about the political direction the country was taking.

“There is no party to represent a broad, progressive, human rights base,” he added. “We have 300 people involved in total; it is a small but growing groups.”

Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

Michael O’Regan is a former parliamentary correspondent of The Irish Times