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Update 10.20am
THE FINE GAEL rebels want to be known as the Reform Alliance as the new grouping prepares for the beginning of the Dáil term next week.
The group of five TDs and two senators has been formed in the aftermath of their expulsion from the parliamentary party over their vote against the abortion bill.
The Reform Alliance has set up a Twitter account which links to a currently non-existent website but this will be active “in due course” one of its members, Lucinda Creighton, said today.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, one of its members, Billy Timmins, said that it is a “loose alliance” and said that it is not a political party and does not have a brand or logo but he did not rule out having all this in the future.
The grouping includes TDs Creighton, Timmins, Terence Flanagan, and Peter Mathews as well as Senators Paul Bradford and Fidelma Healy-Eames who lost the whip over the abortion vote.
It also includes Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Denis Naughten who lost the whip two years ago over hospital cuts.
However, the Reform Alliance does not include Galway West TD Brian Walsh who said he would not be joining the new alliance because some within it are “campaigning aggressively” for the retention of the Seanad.
Walsh made clear in an interview with TheJournal.ie last night that the abortion bill was “a single issue for me that I couldn’t vote for" but said that he would fully support the government in all other matters including scrapping the Seanad which he said was "Enda Kenny’s baby and brain child".
In an interview with this website the Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe has ruled out any return to the parliamentary party fold for Walsh or the members of the Reform Alliance.
He also said they will not be selected as Fine Gael candidates at the next election.
The Reform Alliance is due to hold a 'think-in' this weekend having been excluded from the Fine Gael parliamentary party think-in that takes place in Laois next week.
The chances of it becoming a fully-fledged political party are remote, according to Naughten who was speaking on Today with Seán O'Rourke this morning.
As that interview was being broadcast, Fine Gael chairman Charlie Flanagan appeared to be dismissive of the new alliance:
First published 9.40am
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Would have gone for ‘Provisional Fine Gael’, myself.
Dissident Fine Gael – or maybe the catholic Fine Gael Party – I wonder if they should seek re-election from their voters to see if they would get re-elected without the comfort and budget of Fine Gael
How about ‘Continuity Fine Gael’ due to their determination to continue the oppression of women by the church and state.
Its the lets try and hold on to our jobs as long as we can alliance.
The ABK Blueshirts? (Anybody But Kenny)
Well they’ve settled for the RA so that’s what we’ll have to call them I suppose
I cant believe its not Fine Gael
Up the RA!
The Life Boat Party, – dear me, platforms once again for the has-been’s and also ran’s – ground breaking history in the making yet again – not.
All I can say is that I’m glad they didn’t include the word “Irish” in front of the other two words.
Would have been “acrynomicly unfortunate.”
Brian: Excuse me. Are you the Judean People’s Front?
Reg: Fuc* off! ‘Judean People’s Front’. We’re the People’s Front of Judea! ‘Judean People’s Front’.
Francis: Wan*ers.
Classic movie all political parties should be tied to chairs and forced to watch it, he’s making I it up as he goes along
Classic! :)
SPLITTAH!
Wheres the wolf nipples?
I would’ve gone for rebel alliance myself
Yes, but the ones who gave in to the Dark Side.
To quote Daniel Bryan – YES!!!
The Rebel Alliance are a threat & must be stopped!
“You are part of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor! Take her away!”
Dum Dum Dum, Dum De Dum… Dum De Dum…
Reform? It that the new word for knuckle-dragging reactionary conservatism?
I am pretty sure that is a tautology
Hey gimme a break when I’m not writing 10 paragraphs I have to repeat myself a little, it just feels wrong to me….
a wha?
I know… Reform of what?
They should have gone for “The Vatican Front”….. Or mabey just simply “Opus Dei”.
The RA? Seriously!?
All she needs is a fag in her hand to complete the photo.
And some big hoop ear rings and a few sovereign rings and a load of necklaces.
They do look rather intimidating.
Hard to believe she is married
And a shell suit for hubby !!
I take it none of them are Star Wars fans then
Lucinda, a Fine Gael lapdog for so many years who shuddered at the mention of “reform” while preferring to gorge aboard the gravy train, now considers herself to be worthy of titling her “movement” with the word “reform” when the first thing she has objected to or wanted to “reform” was against the democratic wish of the people and against the advice of leading obstetricians who believe Lucindas “reform” will lead to more women dying! You couldn’t make up that stupidity / delusion!
But apart from that, do you not think it’s quite healthy in a democracy to have various parties and independents participate in this thing we call democracy?
The more the merrier, diversity, multiculturalism? No?
It’s not like they are any major threat to the whip parties who don’t have conscientious objection catered for, sure if one can’t have a free vote according to their conscience what does that say for democracy?
Creighton is no Princess Leia.
Could we call her Princess Lulu instead?
How about Princess Consuela Banana-hammock? Seeing as thought she’s an effing nutter!
*though* predictive text my a#se!
As long as we don’t have to listen to the condescending tones of Creighton, who cares what they do?
Some fall from grace for her hanging round with that group of loons. Not that she’s much better mind.
If the cretins in, I’m out.
So, the TDs kicked out of their party for refusing to support abortion law reform are forming the reform alliance.
Makes sense…….
Now watch them claim their €45k “leaders” allowance on top of their extravagant expenses just like the rest of the motley crew of looney independents! Parasites !
Read it wrong and though it said Rebel Alliance and got all excited for a second or two. Light Sabres in the Dail at last .
You and me both, Catherine! Lucinda needs to grow her hair so she can have the earphone plaits :-)
/facepalm
Most of them are out in the cold for not being willing to reform health care for pregnant women… There’s obviously no such thing as irony in the chamber…
Hehe sure we all knew she was mad to be in limelight. What a truely awful woman. Her and clare daly just no no no
Religious Alliance is more accurate.
Reform Alliance Assemble!
oh give us a break for ffs.
“Seanad abolition is Enda’s baby and I wont go against it.
Pathetic bit of brown nosing there.
I hope the new alliance become a huge thorn in Enda’s side because I cant stand him!
Reform Alliance! More like stupid bloody eejit alliance!
REFORM ALLIANCE? WHY DONT THEY JUST GO PICK A NAME LIKE “FINE CRIMINAL” AT LEAST THEN WE WOULD ALL RESPECT THAT THEY WERE TELLING THE TRUTH STRAIGHT OUT THAT THEY ARE CRIMINALS > HON “FINE CRIMINAL”
Well said Janey! We should lock the lot of them up and throw away the key
Hopefully not to be called the Irish Rebbel Aliance
I presume they all still stand for paying billions to Bondholders while targeting the unemployed, students, pensioners, the handicapped, children, etc. I presume they are all still in favour of the property/bondholder tax, water tax, and all of Fine Gael’s austerity policies. Same chancers, just a different shade of blue.
pat rabbitte abviously felt a a disturbence in the force yesterday http://www.thejournal.ie/pat-rabbitte-lightsabers-star-wars-1080856-Sep2013/
Yes Steve. But it was later put down to WIND.
Autobots assemble! Wait, no, I mean Reform Alliance assemble!
Avengers assemble, autobots TRANSFORM!
This lot will do neither.
You’re right. I got confused much like trying to understand this lot’s ‘new grouping’ idea.
The artist formally know as Fine Gael. They could just use a symbol like Prince did.
Yeah but they can’t use the two fingers one as their symbol ( and I don’t mean peace or victory ) as the current coalition partners are using that to the ordinary citizens of this country at the moment
Good one Gary, and the symbol would be a crosier.
How about a new party to the left to balance things?
how about A party of the left full stop.
Exactly… Just 1 left wing party at all would be nice.
(the political wings of SIPTU & the IRA not really being left wing)
Is 1 centre-left social democrat party with a conscious too mush to ask for in Ireland?
Add ‘secular’ to that
The “I can’t believe it’s not FG” party
Love it
Ironic that a group against any form of legislative reform would choose to call themselves the “Reform Alliance”
Club Vaticano counter reform party.
Joe your like a broken record, do you blame the cc for everything, get a grip.
No Jake, I just want the church mind its own business, separate church and state. They had far too much power in this Country and we all know they abused it; given the chance they would do it all over again. …Don’t you agree?
I agree with the separation of church and state, but I also acknowledge that a lot of good was done by the church. No excuse for abuse or corruption from any quarter. I just think it is unfair to label and tar everyone who has a faith with the same brush. When the word church is used it does not simply mean clergy. The term church refers to all those who profess a faith. The vast majority of.clergy are also decent people who do there best to help others, and have been let down by a few. Respect for those who do not agree with you is a virtue that should be practiced by all those with faith, and those without.
Lucinda looks like a right chemical weapon. I feel threatened, someone call in the UN.
Should have called it the Loose-Enda Alliance.
Is that photo a still from a new Tarantino movie? Mrs. White and Mr. Black in ‘Reservoir Gaels’… I’ll get my coat
Hopefully this is the beginning of of a real right leaning alternative in Irish politics
The largest “party” in the next govt will be the Independents. Civil war parties + Labour are finished. Next Taoiseach will be an independent TD. Kenny will be Tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs
In the last GE voters decided to punish FF and hundreds of thousands voted for the change and new politics FG promised. Not for the first time, the Irish voter was deceived. Even at that we had a record number of independent TDs. People who possibly knew only too well that leopards do not change their spots.
There is no accountability. Why bother even speaking with or listening to your local FG TD. He will be whipped into doing Herr Kenny’s bidding no matter what you or your TD thinks.
2016 (possibly 2015 the rate govt TDs are baling) will return approx 50 independents / small parties. This will leave FG unable to form a government even with FF. They won’t touch SF. The only unknown at this point is which group will be bigger. Independent or FG. I suspect the former.
Interesting times ahead
The next General Election will be fought on Property/Bondolder Tax and Water Tax. Wonder where does Fianna Fáil stand on abolishing those? Aren’t they keeping very quiet.
Definitely. But FF are finished. There’s no amount of kissing babies will ever resurrect them. If they ended up with even less seats next time I wouldn’t be surprised. FG are heading the same direction. They won’t have 50 seats next time out
Hey Scrap, you’re not very good at maths, are you? Or politics for that matter. 50 independents/smaller parties will still leave more than a hundred TDs from the larger parties. Plus, who will vote for an independent Taoiseach?
Absolutely won’t happen. The Independents and small parties can barely find agreement among themselves in opposition. Look at the break up of the United Left Alliance as an example. Clare Daly is now an Independent after falling out with Joe Higgins over her close ties to Mich Wallace and, as far as I remember, the People Before Profit deputies, Joan Collins and RBB, are now in their own grouping separate from ULA. And Seamus Healy left the Alliance also. There are also the left wing-moderate/populist-right wing divisions.
The Independents may well pick up extra seats (although I wouldn’t be too sure Mick Wallace will stay in next time) but even if they got 50 seats they would still be a long way short of the 79 which will be needed.
The Independents and small parties running the country would be a disaster for anyone who wants stable government.
dead right scrap
must make a note of note of the new name..it can join the list on the fridge of who not to vote for..
at this rate i might need a bigger fridge!
Martin. If you think FF/FG/Lab/SF will all unite to form a government, well I guess I can’t explain it to you
Ryan, yes it would be very difficult at first to get independents to unite. But not impossible. And given the general apathy with mainstream politics there is a distinct possibility that they’d have the numbers. While there will be a lot more independents in the next Dáil they won’t be single issue candidates. Dangling the formation of govt carrot in front of them might be enough to bring them together. It’s a tough ask, sure. But I wouldn’t rule it out
Ryan, I guess look at it from the other perspective. If FG return 50 TDs they’re still 30 short of a slim majority. Who will the join with? neither FF nor Labour will have this kind of numbers unless they form some kind of unholy trinity. SF? I’d seriously doubt it. That only leaves the independents who by that stage will likely already have formed their technical group.
Great…now we have another bunch of tossers to choose from…gimme strength
I’ve got a bad feeling about this!
Probably just gas daisy it’ll pass
Reform!!!
Where’s the reform in not letting women have control over there own bodies
Could they be the new PDs?
Born again politicians…..they’ll be knocking on doors in a few months to reform us!
Its the political wing of the catholic church…hurrah
What about “Backward Reform Party”. Dark ages, ultra orthodox and all of that. Electorate did not vote for these people because of their so called moral high ground. Am sure this will not be forgotten at next election
Great, another party not to vote for.
Given FG election rhetoric , The Five Point Gang would seem more appropriate – full of empty promise that fades away!.
Hello truth patrol ; I know you’re looking ; you go girl !
Same Crap just a different name…..
They look like they just got out of court after the Judge had just told them they couldn’t park their “house on wheels” in the bush at the end of his street or he’d have the Gards burn it down to the axles.
Maybe the fence sitters alliance , or the we’ll see what way the wind blows Alliance….come on with the new party Already!
Seriously – what were they thinking?
O’ wait… they probably weren’t!
…Nothing new there then!
Banish those fcukwits to Alderon.
Should have been called the “down with that sort of thing party”
Up the RA
they should of gone with “T
he Mavericks”
Strong wall !
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