Two high-profile Independent TDs have said they will not be joining the new party to be founded by former Fine Gael junior minister Lucinda Creighton.
Independent TD for Dublin South, Shane Ross, congratulated Ms Creighton on launching a party which he said was "very courageous thing", but ruled out the prospect of joining its ranks.
"I don't think a party is the answer. I think we need something much more radical than that," he told the Today with Seán O'Rourke programme on RTÉ Radio 1.
Mr Ross said he was “successfully” putting together an alliance of Independent TDs, “seven or eight” of whom had committed to the principle of the alliance, as well as Independent councillors and individuals who “will be able to operate as a political body and stand for election but on the basis that they are not a party because the party whip and party loyalty have been one of the great curses of Irish politics”.
Another Independent TD, Finian McGrath, who represents the Dublin North-Central constituency, also ruled out joining the new party.
He said he and other Independent TDs were discussing the possibility of an alliance which might form part of a coalition government after the next election.
Mr McGrath said if agreement can be reached on certain issues that the alliance would put forward a seven- or eight-point plan which could potentially form part of a programme for government.
Mr McGrath said he had no intention of joining a political party and would stand again only as an Independent.
Speaking on Newstalk, Mr McGrath said, while he agreed with Ms Creighton’s assertion that the politics of the right has failed, that she had contradicted herself by “setting up a new conservative party” adding that “she has fudged the whole issue of equality and social issues. The mood for change and reform should not be confused with the need for a new conservative party.”
“Lucinda is making a fundamental mistake,” he said pointing to polls which say that “in the region of 32 or 33 per cent of people are thinking voting Independent. Independent voters . . . want change, they want reform, they want transparency but I don’t think they are looking for another conservative party,” he said.
Mr McGrath said he did not think the new party is going “to get many Independent TDs”, adding “I’m just wondering where the support is going to come from”.
Reacting to Ms Creighton's announcement Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said "the last thing that Ireland needs is yet another conservative political party".
“Economic and political conservatism is at the root of all our recent difficulties. There is little in the background, outlook or policies of Lucinda Creighton or those aligned with her that offers the type of political change that citizens now seek,” he said.
“Irish society faces a choice between a continuation of the failed politics of conservatism or a genuine republican alternative that offers the prospect of radical political change,” he said.
Despite the political party not yet having a name, the hashtag #rebootireland was trending in Ireland following Ms Creighton’s announcement as people took to social media to react to the news of a new party being formed.
Among them was solicitor and deputy chairwoman of the Pro Life Campaign, Cora Sherlock who tweeted: “Great to see a woman taking the initiative and bringing something new to Ireland’s political scene.”
