MORE THAN 20 Independent candidates hope to form a grouping of TDs that could make up a Fine Gael-led government, a candidate said yesterday.
Thomas Clare, an independent candidate in the Louth constituency, said the grouping included “influential” people who want to create jobs and support enterprise. Mr Clare said high-profile business and economics figures would be among the candidates in the grouping, of which he was part. He said the group was believed to include Senator Shane Ross, running in Dublin South as an Independent candidate.
Mr Ross has said if elected, he plans to join with like-minded Independents “to change the entire political system to end the culture of cronyism”. Mr Ross also said, on announcing his candidacy, that he did not intend to be an “insignificant backbencher” and hoped a large number of people would “take the same line as me”.
Mr Clare said: “The speculation is that if this technical group of Independents can reach over 20 elected TDs that they can then be in position to form a government with Enda Kenny”.
The grouping would be “centre-right in terms of jobs and economic policy”and “would think there could be a good public sector if there was a strong private sector,” he said.
The Independent candidates had an agreement to “unite as a collective”, said Mr Clare.