The Social Democrats, the new party formed by TDs Roisín Shortall, Catherine Murphy and Stephen Donnelly, have declined to sign up to the broad left-wing platform already adopted by Sinn Féin.

Earlier this week, Sinn Féin announced it signed up to the broad policy aims drafted by the Right2Change movement, which was formed from the anti-water charges campaign.

The party also said it will encourage its voters to transfer to others parties and TDs who adopt the principles, although some, such as the Anti-Austerity Alliance, said they would not return the favour by asking their supporters to transfer to Gerry Adams’s party.

In a statement on Thursday evening, the Social Democrats, who held meetings with Right2Change, said they “commended” the substantial policy document, which it described as being “underpinned by sound principles”.

However, it has decided not to participate in the movement.

The three TDs said they were concerned the document “amounts to a manifesto”, and that the Social Democrats intends to produce one of its own.

“At this point in time the focus is on building the Social Democrats as a party which will stand as a wholly independent party in the next general election,” the statement added.

“The document represents a significant and impressive piece of work and we are glad to have had the opportunity to participate.

“At our launch we said we would not be engaging in any pre-election pact and that remains our position.

“We are preparing for a General Election based on our own policy priorities and while we’d have common ground with most of the objectives set out in the Right2Change document, we intend to stand in front of the electorate as a fully independent party.”