Shane Ross considers time right for new party

Independent TD Shane Ross has said he believes the time is right for a new political party or alliance and that the numbers willing to run for election are there.

He said he had spent the last few months canvassing people for their views and found a strong appetite for change.

“I’ve just been having very exploratory talks with my Independent colleagues in the Dáil and I’ve also spoken to Lucinda [Creighton] at some length, also to Independent Senators, and I’ve also spoken over the last month or so to people outside direct politics but also to a large number of county councillors,” he said. Mr Ross contacted 193 Independent councillors for their views. “The numbers are there,” he said.

He was neutral on whether the new entity would be an Independent alliance or a party, but before forming a government with another party it would have to insist on a number of non-negotiable issues.

“The important thing is to get policies right before an election so that you can go there and say to the people: ‘We have at least seven pillars which are non-negotiable and we won’t support any government under any circumstances which doesn’t agree these absolutely radical reforms, which would change Irish society at the top forever.’”

He said there must be no party whip on any issues except votes of confidence. Mr Ross said he wanted to ensure there was an appetite for “going out there to change Irish politics once and for all and if there’s the energy there and if the finance is there and if the issues are important enough for people to do that. My guess is that they now are and I think that’s the situation we are in.”

He said the state of disillusionment was “absolutely chronic”. “I think people see it as being run by an elite for an elite and I think they are crying out . . . for something new that would destroy the old political system and replace it with something straightforward”.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Marian Finucane Show, he said he understood Ms Creighton had gone further down the road on forming a party, "but I'm very happy to talk to her and to any Independent who wants to change the system so radically that it is unrecognisable".

Yesterday the Sunday Independent reported Mr Ross and his supporters commissioned a poll which found he was the favourite to lead a new party, should one be created.

The Red C poll of more than 1,000 people across the country found 22 per cent would like to see him as leader. Ms Creighton was the choice of 18 per cent, while former Labour minister Róisín Shortall was the third choice at 13 per cent.

Some 9 per cent would like to see Independent TD Stephen Donnelly as leader, while 8 per cent opted for former tánaiste Michael McDowell.