Advice sought on Independents appearing on ballot paper

The Independent Alliance has received legal advice on whether Independents can be recognised on the ballot paper.

TDs Shane Ross, Michael Fitzmaurice, John Halligan and Finian McGrath met lawyers on Tuesday to assess whether the brand Independent can appear on the ballot paper.

Currently, a general election candidate who is not a member of a political party appears as non-party rather than as independent.

A source close to the TDs said: “We are recognised as Independents on in the Dáil, we are recognised in the opinion polls as Independents but we are not on the ballot paper.

“So the aim is to seek legal advice to see if we can challenge that.”

Candidates

The alliance has hired solicitor David O’Reilly to prepare a case for them and is expected to meet TDs again in the coming weeks.

At least 22 candidates will run for the Independent Alliance in the next general election.

The alliance is a grouping of Independents made up of five TDs – Mr Ross, Mr McGrath, Mr Fitzmaurice, Mr Halligan and Tom Fleming – along with Senators Fergal Quinn and Gerard Craughwell.

All five TDs plan to run in the general election, and Mr Craughwell will run again for the Seanad, though Mr Quinn, who is chairman of the alliance, will not.

Former Green Party TD Paul Gogarty will also run for the alliance in the election.