ANALYSIS: Independents had a significant role in the 28th Dáil, writes Marie O'Halloran, who looks at the Independents and candidates from small parties
The Independent TDs commanded a significant role in the 28th Dáil. They propped up a stable minority Government for a full five-year term, the longest in peacetime.
So important were they to the administration that two major policies - that are known about - were adjusted. The four Independent TDs, on whom the Coalition relied for support, forced a U-turn on the Minister for the Environment's cherished plan to end the dual mandate - holding a seat in both a local authority and the Dáil. They also demanded, and got, a referendum on abortion.
Each of the four, Harry Blaney, Mildred Fox, Jackie Healy-Rae and Tom Gildea, delivered "goodies" for their constituencies because of their influence in the Government. It was such that they had regular meetings with Government chief whip Seamus Brennan to address their concerns. And there was an assistant from the Taoiseach's office to liaise with each of them.
There can be no doubt that they are a role model for the 132 candidates - either Independents or members of "other registered parties" - who have ambitions to follow them after this general election.
Two of the Independents, Thomas Gildea and Harry Blaney, are retiring but the others are running again, including the longest serving of all Independents, Tony Gregory (Dublin Central). The 54-year-old has been a TD for 20 years and set the agenda for aspiring king-makers with his "Gregory Deal" with former Taoiseach Charles Haughey in 1982. The former secondary school teacher said it was his "programme for government".
Wicklow's Independent TD Mildred Fox first won a by-election caused by the death of her father, Independent TD Johnny Fox, in 1995. The 29-year-old is the youngest of the Independents and is expected to be around for the 29th Dáil, although it remains to be seen how crucial her vote will be to the next government.
Jackie Healy-Rae has been something of a father figure for the Wicklow TD in the Dáil. When the 71-year-old rowed in with the Government, one observer remarked that "Jackie will get the DART down in Kerry South". The controversial TD, who ran independently in 1997 when he failed to win a Fianna Fáil nomination, may not have got a rail service. He has, however, delivered for the constituency. He will be an "inspiration" for the several candidates from the major parties who have decided to run as Independents.
Harry Blaney, the 74-year-old Donegal North East TD and part of the Blaney Independent Fianna Fáil family dynasty. is hoping to make way for his son Niall. The 28-year-old civil engineering technician for Donegal County Council, is getting married in August. He gave up his job in January to go full-time into politics, having been elected to the council in 1999. He is campaigning against corruption, for infrastructural funding and for a 32-county Ireland. Donegal is asking for its "fair share" but he feels that won't happen without a united Ireland,
The retiring Tom Gildea (62) is backing his constituency secretary, Gwen Breslin (47), as a candidate in Donegal South West. Married with four children, and living in Glenties, this is her first election. While Mr Gildea campaigned on the single issue of television deflectors, she is standing on "all the issues" - health, unemployment, infrastructure and cheaper motor insurance.
Seamus Healy, a retired hospital administrator and member of the Workers and Unemployed Action Group, spent 15 years fighting elections before becoming an "overnight success" in a 2000 by-election. A widower with four children, his WUAG has four seats in Clonmel Corporation and continues to have major support in the constituency.
The controversial, former Fine Gael minister, Michael Lowry, topped the 1997 poll as an Independent and is expected to do so again. Fifteen years a TD, he resigned as a m+inister in 1996 and from the Fine Gael parliamentary party the following year. The 48-year-old Thurles deputy is under investigation by the Moriarty tribunal over payments made by Ben Dunne. The tribunal is also investigating the awarding by Mr Lowry of the State's second mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone.