Sir, – Over the Christmas period we have finally seen opinion polls confirming there is an increasing appetite for a new political party. Unfortunately, a lot of commentators automatically assumed that such a party could arise from a number of Independent TDs and some of the disaffected former members of the larger parties in the Dáil. This is the big mistake. I would suggest that a new party needs to be made up of people who have little allegiance or involvement with the current political system. Members also need to have real experience of business and the financial realities of living in this country. The days of our most senior political positions being filled by life-long party hacks, former civil servants with no relevant qualifications for their posts and family members of “dynasties” should be done away with.
The gap that exists is for a new party to represent “middle Ireland”. In my view this covers those people who are being lumbered with the financial burden of the State, who are told that what is done is being fair and yet, in truth, are not represented by anyone in the Dáil. For too long we have had political parties who bleat in opposition and then when in power ignore all their election promises. The current Government is no different.
Hopefully, a new party will emerge to give the people some real hope, a real future rather than the usual spin. – Yours, etc,