Work of forming new party speeds up following leaking of plans

Four Independent parliamentarians involved in forming a new party have accelerated their work in the wake of their plans being made public.

TDs Catherine Murphy, Stephen Donnelly and Róisín Shortall, and Senator Katherine Zappone held meetings yesterday with a view to having the party formally established before the summer recess.

“We need to move sooner rather than later in founding the party,” said a source close to the discussions.

Mr Donnelly, representing Wicklow, and Ms Shortall, for Dublin North-West, would not be drawn on how advanced their plans were. Ms Shortall said they had received queries from prospective members of the party, which will style itself as centre-left.

Founders

It is understood the prospective founders – the other two are

Kildare North

TD Catherine Murphy and Independent Senator Katherine Zappone – held meetings yesterday at a venue close to

Leinster

House.

Independent Senator James Heffernan, who stood in Limerick in the 2011 general election for Labour, indicated he might be interested in joining, as he was attracted to the Nordic model of social democracy it was steering towards and was impressed by some of those associated with the group.

Independent Senator Jillian van Turnhout said she had not been approached, and would not be joining.

Left-wing parties

Reaction from other political parties was muted, with some expressing surprise Mr Donnelly would be involved in a party with Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall, both of whom had been in left-wing parties. It was pointed out that his pre-budget submission for 2015 contained measures on tax and spending that might not rest easily with the other TDs.

Minister of State for Finance Simon Harris expressed scepticism about the formation of another new party and said politicians should concentrate on policies rather than personalities.

“I’d rather judge it on the substance when it is established, if it is established,” he said.

The new grouping would compete with the as yet unformed alliance of Independent TDs and councillors being co-ordinated by Shane Ross and Finian McGrath, and to a lesser extent with Lucinda Creighton's Renua Ireland.

Mr McGrath denied the establishment of the new Independent grouping was a blow to his alliance. “We have loads of lovely councillors around the country who are doing great work,” he said. “They are new people, they are fresh people.”