Independent Ireland

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Not to be confused with Irish independence, Irish Independent, Independent Irish Party, or Independent politician (Ireland).

Independent Ireland
LeaderMichael Collins
General SecretaryRichard O'Donoghue
Founders
  • Michael Collins
  • Richard O'Donoghue
Founded10 November 2023
IdeologyConservatism
Social conservatism
Anti-immigration
Political positionRight-wing[1]
European Parliament groupEuropean Conservatives and Reformists (cooperation)
SloganForward Together
Dáil Éireann
3 / 160
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
11 / 949
Website
independentireland.ie

Independent Ireland is a right-wing[1] political party in Ireland. It was formed on 8 November 2023 by former independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O'Donoghue.[2][3] Collins said that the party seeks to provide "a comfortable alternative" to voters unhappy with the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green Party coalition, but are unwilling to vote for Sinn Féin.[4]

History[edit]

Collins is the leader of the party in Dáil Éireann, while O'Donoghue serves as general secretary. O'Donoghue told the Irish Examiner that he and Collins hoped to encourage members of the Rural Independents Group in the Dáil to join.[5] Both Collins and O'Donoghue had been members of the Rural Independents Group prior to founding the party.

Michael Fitzmaurice became the party's third TD in February 2024.[6] In the same month, Councillors Shane P. O'Reilly and Declan Geraghty joined the party and announced their intention to contest re-election to Cavan County Council and Galway County Council respectively.[7] John O'Donoghue joined Independent Ireland in March 2024 while standing for re-election to the Limerick City and County Council.[8] Later that month, Noel Larkin of Galway City Council, Declan Kelly of the Galway County Council, Kenneth O'Flynn of Cork City Council, and Nigel Dineen of Roscommon County Council announced that they would run as Independent Ireland candidates in the 2024 local elections.[9][10][11][12]

On 5 April 2024, the party announced that former RTÉ correspondent Ciaran Mullooly would be standing for Independent Ireland in the 2024 European Parliament election in the Midlands–North-West constituency.[13][14] In the same month, Councillors Séamus Walsh and Noel Thomas of the Galway Council Council, Paul Hogan of the Westmeath County Council, and Danny Collins of the Cork County Council announced they would run as Independent Ireland candidates in the 2024 local elections.[15][16]

On 22 April 2024, Ireland's Classic Hits Radio presenter Niall Boylan announced he would be running for party in the 2024 European Parliament election in the Dublin constituency.[17]

Policies[edit]

In December 2023, the party took part in a meeting called "The family of European Conservatives is expanding" organized by the European Conservatives and Reformists.[18]

Independent Ireland were one of two parties represented in the Dáil to advocate a No/No vote in the March 2024 Irish constitutional referendums;[19] the other party to advocate a No/No vote was Aontú.[20]

Collins has said that he's "against abortion. Full stop."[21] Collins and O'Donoghue were co-sponsors of a 2021 bill that would have required pain relief for foetuses being aborted. The Dáil overwhelmingly defeated the bill.[22]

Collins and O'Donoghue have both been alleged to have questioned the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19,[23][24] though both have since stated that they are not anti-vaccine and they have expressed a willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine.[25][26]

The party states that it is against open borders, claiming open borders are allowed and promoted by profiteers at the expense of the taxpayer.[27]

The party has pledged to enact planning reform, establish emergency modular housing schemes, and eradicate families living in emergency accommodations.[28]

The party aims to reduce the cost of living by freezing and reforming the Carbon Tax. It states it wishes to end the Property Tax and abolish the Universal Social Charge for people over the age of 65.[29]

Elected officials[edit]

Dáil Éireann[edit]

Portrait Name Elected as Constituency
Michael Collins Independent Cork South-West
Michael Fitzmaurice Independent Roscommon–Galway
Richard O'Donoghue Independent Limerick County

Councils[edit]

Name Elected as Council
Danny Collins Independent Cork County Council
Nigel Dineen Independent Roscommon County Council
Declan Geraghty Independent Galway County Council
Paul Hogan Independent Westmeath County Council
Declan Kelly Independent Galway County Council
Noel Larkin Independent Galway City Council
John O'Donghue Independent Limerick City and County Council
Kenneth O'Flynn Fianna Fáil Cork City Council
Shane P. O'Reilly Fianna Fáil Cavan County Council
Noel Thomas Fianna Fáil Galway County Council
Séamus Walsh Fianna Fáil Galway County Council

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Ireland". Europe Elects. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  2. ^ "New Independent Ireland party registered with Electoral Commission". The Irish Times.
  3. ^ "Registration of Political Parties" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2023 (90): 1423. 10 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Two TDs launch new political party as 'comfortable alternative' to Sinn Féin". Irish Independent. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  5. ^ Hosford, Paul (10 November 2023). "Cork TD Michael Collins to lead new political party". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  6. ^ Cunningham, Paul (12 February 2024). "Michael Fitzmaurice to join new Independent Ireland party". RTÉ News.
  7. ^ Meehan, Stella (29 February 2024). "Independent Ireland recruits Galway cllr. for local elections". Agriland.ie. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  8. ^ Fitzpatrick, Frances. "Limerick councillor joins Independent Ireland party". www.limerickleader.ie. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Former Galway Mayor to run for Independent Ireland in Local Elections". Midwest Radio. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Loughrea councillor Declan Kelly joins new Independent Ireland party". Galway Bay FM. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  11. ^ "City councillor Ken O'Flynn joins Michael Collins' Independent Ireland party". The Southern Star. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Roscommon Councillor Nigel Dineen to run for Independent Ireland". Midwest Radio. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Ciaran Mullooly set for major battle with local MEP according to a political analyst". Shannonside.ie. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Former RTÉ journalist Ciaran Mullooly confirmed as Independent Ireland European election candidate". The Irish Times. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Councillors reprimanded by Fianna Fáil over stance on housing of asylum seekers in Galway to run for Independent Ireland". Irish Independent. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Paul Hogan to run in Athlone and Moate areas for new Independent Ireland party". Westmeath Examiner. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Radio broadcaster Niall Boylan to run for Independent Ireland in European elections". The Irish Times. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  18. ^ Russo, Agnese (16 December 2023). "Atreju, la speranza e l'orgoglio di dare un nuovo futuro all'Ue: "La famiglia dei Conservatori si allarga"". Secolo d'Italia (in Italian). Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  19. ^ Independent Ireland [@independent_ire] (4 March 2024). "The impact of this referendum on immigration law, tax law and family law is unknown. The lack of clarity on "durable relationships" may cause chaos in our courts. If you don't know, VOTE NO NO" (Tweet). Retrieved 6 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Aontú only political party advocating for No-No vote on upcoming referendums on care and family". Independent.ie. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Two out of three CSW TDs against repealing the 8th". The Southern Star. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Dáil rejects foetal-pain relief Bill for late-term abortions". The Iona Institute. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  23. ^ O'Shea, Joe (10 December 2020). "Cork TD says he won't take covid-19 vaccine". Cork Beo. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  24. ^ Lenihan, Barry (10 December 2020). "Would your local TD get the Covid-19 vaccine?".
  25. ^ O’Rourke, Ryan (12 January 2021). "Limerick TD insists he is not 'anti-vaccinations' and says he will take Covid jab". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  26. ^ O'Shea, Joe (23 December 2020). "Cork TD says he will 'happily' take vaccine when he knows what he is taking". Cork Beo. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Independent Ireland". Independent Ireland. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Independent Ireland". Independent Ireland. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Independent Ireland". Independent Ireland. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
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