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Updated at 11.21pm
LUCINDA CREIGHTON’S LONG-AWAITED political party, Renua Ireland, was launched in Dublin today and there’s lots to talk about off the back of it.
“Open” was the buzzword used repeatedly by Creighton, the leader, and financial advisor Eddie Hobbs, who is the party president.
The pair opened proceedings and unveiled the name of the party before taking part in a Q&A alongside some of its new members. But most journalists just wanted to speak to Creighton.
It was hard to get away from the feeling that this was The Lucinda Show. But what do we really know about Ireland’s newest political party and its policies?
Here’s what we learned at the Science Gallery…
1. It’s not quite a party yet
Renua Ireland formally lodged registration papers and its constitution with the clerk of the Dáil this morning and is likely to be officially confirmed as a political party in the coming weeks. It can then set up a central bank account and start fundraising.
Creighton stated bluntly that they have no money at the moment but it was a pretty glitzy launch they put on today.
2. It already has a presence in Leinster House…
Renua has three TDs including Creighton, fellow ex-Fine Gaelers Terence Flanagan and Billy Timmins, who is deputy leader, as well as senators Paul Bradford and Mary-Ann O’Brien, an independent who was appointed to the Seanad by the Taoiseach in 2011.
O’Brien’s husband and Jack and Jill founder Jonathan Irwin is a member of the party (you may remember we floated that idea a few weeks ago) and will run in the general election.
Mortgage adviser Karl Deeter is the party’s ethics officer, in charge of a code of conduct for all party members, although he is not a member.
3. Eddie Hobbs doesn’t know what he’s doing… yet
Hobbs is party president and is still coy about running in the election, but it’s worth noting that Irwin and Hobbs are both based in the Kildare South constituency. Hobbs said family commitments would prevent him from running if the election was called tomorrow. But he added:
In due course if it is possible for me to run, I will run.
4. Renua is running a candidate in every constituency
The party has 3,500 people who’ve signed up to its website and has 180 declared candidates who want to run in the election. But only around 50 to 60 of them will be selected by the party for the general election next year.
The selection process will involve a 5-member panel (membership of which hasn’t been disclosed, but it could include people outside the party) who will essentially vet candidates before they’re voted on by the national party via an online poll.
5. The party wants open government…
“We want to ensure we govern in the sunshine. Cabinet confidentiality is unnecessary,” said Creighton today.
One of the most radical proposals is that the minutes of cabinet meetings will be made public 48 hours after they take place unless issues relate to national security. Renua argues there will be no need for FOI or parliamentary questions anymore “because information will, by default, be available”.
6. … and new politics…
We hear a lot about new politics from people starting new parties. We got some indication of what that means today. Renua wants to change the electoral system. Here’s how:
It also wants to introduce a number of changes within 30 days of entering power including a secret ballot to elect the Ceann Comhairle and provide powers to the Oireachtas to delay legislation.
It also wants term limits for ministers and the Taoiseach although this would not disqualify someone who has been a minister in the past from being a minister again, Creighton explained. The idea would be to end situations where TDs can spend 10 consecutive years in cabinet.
Renua wants to develop an oath of allegiance to the state and a new code of ethics for all TDs and Senators. It also wants to amend the constitution to require politician to represent the whole country.
Councillors will have their roles more tightly defined and it will become a full-time, paid position. The overall aim is to separate local and national politics.
https://vine.co/v/O9DarLwqLeD
7. But what about abortion?
The formation of this party had its genesis in Creighton’s expulsion from Fine Gael for voting against abortion legislation in 2013 and she was joined by fellow rebels Flanagan and Timmins today as well as her husband Paul Bradford. The party will allow a free vote on such issues of conscience.
Elsewhere, Creighton confirmed she would be voting yes in the same-sex marriage referendum ”but others are free to make their own choice when voting”. She repeatedly emphasised the party’s “open position” on matters of conscience.
8. It’s not ruling out sacking public sector workers
Eddie Hobbs said there would be no restoration of the public sector pay cuts that have been introduced in recent years and said the cost of running the public sector is still too high.
In its glossy policy document, Renua also says that sackings in the public sector have to be a reality if performance does not improve after employees are trained or transferred to new roles.
9. It’s very pro-business and entrepreneurship
The party is proposing an Irish Credit Network, a peer-to-peer lending programme, which would be run and owned by business.
It also proposes to remove the higher rates of USC for the self-employed and proposes to mandate the self-employed to enrol in a pension scheme. The rate of capital gains tax will be changed for investment in business and employee share schemes will be encouraged.
10. It wants to reform the budget process
The party wants “modern accountancy techniques” applied to the management of the public finances and to give the Dáil and Seanad powers to influence departmental budget allocation and develop the budget through Oireachtas committees.
11. It has big ideas for childcare
Renua wants to change maternity leave to parental leave so that parents can decide how to use six months paid leave. A tax credit will be introduced to assist families in the cost of childcare. It also wants the state to develop community creche facilities.
12. It wants to reform local property tax and abolish Irish Water
The party wants a Zoned Land charge which would place a levy on all land zoned for development as well as introduce a Site Value charge. All this money would be used to fund local services and develop social infrastructure.
Creighton said the party wants to “dismantle” Irish Water but added that it does believe in the principle of paying for water. There’s no detailed policy on this yet.
13. It wants a truth and reconciliation process
Renua proposes to establish a truth and reconciliation process to run over a period of four years. It would deal with, among other things, the stigmatisation of single mothers, the survivors of abuse in schools, survivors of the care system, people subjected to coerced and forced adoptions and and families and victims unethically committed to the care system. The idea is that the commission would produce reports on an ongoing basis.
14. It doesn’t have much to say about health…
But it does want to rebuild the health system “free from the orthodoxy of vested interests” and build services out of the HSE and into the community. The document doesn’t say much else on that issue.
15. … or these areas…
It pledges fundamental reform of the education system as being a priority by prioritising citizens over trade unions, but doesn’t go into detail.
On welfare, it says rather oddly:
Those who are not self-reliant will be imprisoned rather than released by a life on welfare.
On justice it says that “a regeneration of a policy of zero tolerance in the streets and the courts is necessary”. Renua believes that a justice policy that fails to rehabilitate citizens has failed but adds that prisoners also owe a duty of care to society to rehabilitate themselves. What sort of solid policy comes out of that, we’re not sure.
16. It’s not ruling out Fine Gael, but there’ll be no deal with Sinn Féin
Finally, Creighton said that when it comes to coalition deals it will be about “policy not personality”.
So she wasn’t ruling out a post-election deal with her former party although noted it would be “very difficult” to prop up the current coalition if they don’t quite make the numbers. She was more definitive about Sinn Féin:
16. Enda’s not too keen on teaming up
The Taoiseach wasn’t saying much, when asked about the prospect of a possible future collaboration with Team Lucinda. Speaking to reporters in the US, he said it was a “free country” when asked about the former Fine Gael minister’s new party.
He added that the Government was always willing to listen to good ideas… from independents.
“I did say in the past that constructive suggestions that have come from independents can be worthy of being considered. Why wouldn’t they be, if they’re about job creation and ways of improving the lot of people?
“It’s the duty of Government to listen, and that’s what we do all the time.”
Additional reporting, Daragh Brophy.
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Pretty sure Renua is the name of an over the counter creme that removes athletes foot
They also make fun stuff like the “LessFat Lazer”: http://www.renuamedical.com/#!n-lal-2/cozh
And the Facial Rejuvenation System: http://www.renuamedical.com/#!micro-muscular/c24rn
It sounds like Lucinda will be appearing on early morning infomercials excitedly exclaiming “but that’s not allllll” before very long. Where she belongs probably.
All Irish parties are the same, all put Irish people last and push the EU multicultural scam.
There is only room now for a party that puts the Irish people first and regains our sovereignty, saying no to mass-immigration and austerity.
Ah here we go; Paddy screws the country up, gets ridden by the lads in Frankfurt, then kicks the Romanian or the Zimbawean that got him home in one piece last night in a taxi.
Marvellous man is Paddy!!
A damn good name for an anti ageing cream for Enda Kenny.!
Employ candidates(who manage to get elected) liberally, after the next election.
If I have anything to do with it she’ll never see the inside of Leinster House again (except maybe selling Renua healthcare products). She won’t be getting my vote!
As a public sector worker , I agree it prob needs to be reformed but Eddie Hobbs seems to be very anti public sector , I can see this party getting into fights with nurses , teachers unions etc .. I think I’ll take a pass on this new party .
I’ve just read their public sector policy – frankly it looks like an outbreak of common sense. Personally I’m going to hold my fire.
They are a wet dream for IBEC
It’s no harm for some form of control in the public sector-whilst there are many valuable effective staff there is always bad eggs which should be disposed
I bet Eddie Hobbs takes full fees when he’s interviewed on the late late and other RTE shows. He will cut everyone else’s pay except his own. We will see if he’s all talk and not run or will he walk the walk
The public sector never abandons any of it’s own.If you are in-your in for life.
Youve won the lottery.
http://i60.tinypic.com/2e4md8y.jpg
Agreed Gavin but how do you judge performance in certain sectors .. If a supervisor takes a dislike to an employee , they could write up a false performance report hence they be sacked . That’s just a fear !!
Look at Eddie Hobbs track record.
Not saying that the public sector does not need reform (it most certainly does) but I would keep him very far away from it.
Probably finds child care costs prohibitive
The party themselves don’t seem to know much even Eddie Hobbs doesn’t know if he is going to run in the election
ReNua support water charges so they’ll be fishing for Fg votes. Join the protest Saturday 21.03.15
Whatever your political persuasion ignore this stupid protest on March 21st
“In its glossy policy document, Renua also says that sackings in the public sector have to be a reality if performance does not improve after employees are trained or transferred to new roles”
Love to see the first Renua politician to try that stunt on David Begg.!
Apoplexy comes to mind..
I’ll go with the Jonathan Irwin and sacking under-performing civil servants things for now …
All they’ve done is spotted a gap in the market and filled it. Extreme right wing Ireland.
“Creighton said the party wants to “dismantle” Irish Water but added that it does believe in the principle of paying for water. There’s no detailed policy on this yet.”
Vague waffle, a la Bart Ahern.!
Enough said.
Your on the money there, but isn’t that what we need?
Good to see they’ve already lost the public sector and their families. At least do what other politicians do and wait until you’re voted in to tell people they’re being screwed.
I know I’ll catch red thumbs for this but that’s one already pampered demographic I give them credit for NOT pandering to, all the other parties do it and look what it’s gotten us, the bloated HSE and DSP famous for inefficiency and incompetence.
My questions: Do they support the removal of blasphemy law? Will they devolve all schools?
Wow Catholic & nut job all in the one sentence .. Just because she’s pro life !! I’m an atheist and I’m pro life .
Then you are VERY unusual because the basis for most opposition to abortion is religious, which is ironic considering abortion is mandated and encouraged all over the bible.
“Devolve all schools?” You mean take them from the RCC? Not even Labour are advocating that…
Wow that’s the only reason people are against it cos of the bible , well that sorts that . So it’s all normal reasonable people against catholic nut jobs ?? Maybe I’m against the taking of an innocent life .. Now I’m pro death penalty .. Work that one out . Innocent child should live , dirty murderer dies !
Not true Ryan. The basis for opposition to abortion is a Human rights one, based on the scientifically verifiable fact that abortion is the killing of a living,pre natal, human.
(a) The pre natal offspring of 2 humans is human and no other species
(b)It is living and the act of abortion kills that living human.
It’s no more a human being than a guys sperm is. The question, IMO is not where LIFE begins (A plant is life) it’s where PERSONHOOD begins, and when the fetus is not a separate viable entity that can survive outside the mother, and is not self aware or able to feel pain, it’s just an extension of the mothers body.
Arguing based on what it COULD be is silly, I ‘could’ be murdering one potential person a day by not screwing one woman without a condom each day..by now I’ve killed thousands!
I’m glad you are Honest enough to state your issue is PERSONHOOD, and not confusing it with with the biological fact that the pre natal offspring of two human parents is in fact a living human. In other words your are the exact same human individual today,biologically speaking, you were when you where a four week old embryo, and if you had been killed then it would you who would be dead now!
You are NOT the exact same human individual as your fathers sperm, and had something killed the sperm that eventually fertilized your mothers egg, it would not be you who was killed. You would never have existed in the first place.
However you must accept that “personhood” is merely an opinion, an ideological concept, a philosophical position. To claim that a living pre natal human is not a person, is no more based on Empirical fact than claiming it is one. Both premises are based on a philosophical position. And let us face it as human’s we have precedent in denying personhood to fellow human’s!
Eddie/Lucinda, You just lost 300,000 Public Sector Votes. Keep up the good work.
Please don’t assume that everyone votes for self-interest only. Apparently, as a public sector employee, I vote Labour and listen to ICTU as credible informants. We don’t all fit in the political/social boxes analysts would like…
The only thing we need to know is they are fg lackeys simple as._.
The anti abortion (in any case) catholic party…. talk about going backwards…
What policy indicates that, Liam?
Her ejection from the fg party.
They don’t seem to know what they are, let alone us! #clowns
In other news, someone opened a packet of crisps during lunch hour today, updates as we get them.
No mention of FIdelma Healy Eames? With Eddie Hobbs and Fidelma I was going to write this crowd off completely. Just a pity that they have Hobbs as president. I personally wouldnt trust him financially or otherwise , so this party is still not for me. Very poor judgement to have Hobbs involved
I support their intentions, but I agree re: Hobbs.
When every single part of the ideological spectrum is covered (FF – Centre) (FG & Labour -Centre/Centre Right) (Centre-Left – SF) (Left – ULA) then you are gonna have to wow the electorate with some innovative proposals.
When you look at their policies though they are vague as hell, no real specifics. The only SPECIFICS I can find are publish cabinet meetings 2 days later and, I swear to God ‘prisoners should rehabilitate themselves’ and it should be obvious to those of you with any real knowledge of politics why the cabinet proposal would be a disaster and thus would never happen.They give an overall flavor though..they have a PD vibe but without the PDs socially liberal stripes, I cannot imagine a less popular combination especially with the under 40 part of the electorate, for various reasons.
Are you suggesting that everybody under 40 espouses a left leaning ideology?
Pepper Brooks, you have the comprehension level of a head of lettuce.
Think typical Neo Libreal politics & yer half way there. On the website it said Semi States have to be economical. So thats code for privatisation. Given the massive success that is the Lotto (cos An Post did such a poor job of it!!) gives me hyper confidence that they know exactly what they are on about……….
@Pepper
Most of the younger demographic are generally more progressive in terms of wanting universal healthcare, free at point of use University etc (which is why even our right wing parties are in favor of those things). So you combine a GENERAL trend towards more progressive economic policies (to a point) with Generation X (born after 1970) and Generation Y (Born after 80/85) that tend to be almost universally socially liberal and you have where the next generation of adult voters is ideologically.
So comes along a party that is mainly known for splitting from their parent party OVER a socially conservative issue, who was fine staying supporting them when breaking promises left and right on education, healthcare etc..and on top of this vision of social conservatism they give off a bit of a Thatcherite vibe…RIGHT at a time when that under 40 demographic in particular has endure a decade of harsh austerity, unemployment and a jobseekers rate that would not fund a paupers life…I can’t see it getting more than 2-3%
Karl Deetar mortgage advisor. The guy who sees no problem with mass evictions while also seeing no issue with carry over of debt following repossession. About as useful to the area of financial justice as a clutch of celibate bishops are to childcare. Thats before I get started on religion. A party that Ali Selim Irelands proudest Islamist sought to join. I used to think Sinn Fein were the worst party in politics but Id welcome Gerry Adams as Taoiseach a million times over before this shower of largely the scrap heap of Fine Gael.
Karl deeter ? Whats the deal with him and the blinking ?
Fantastic contribution there anne oreilly..whats the deal with you being a sap?
Cabinet minutes released after 48 hours? – ridiculous. SO basically we would have a minuted cabinet meeting and then the real cabinet meeting afterwards. Discussions at high level must be kept secret for many reasons. JFK put tapes into the oval office to record history as it was taken place- it lead to the fall of Nixon… it also gives a marvellous archive into the Cuban missile crisis.
This would be a far better idea – put tapes into the cabinet room and release them at a later date. If this had been done over hte last 5-10 years – there would be little need for a banking enquiry the answers would have been on the tapes and who said what to whom.
Or the ‘real cabinet meeting’ (as you say) would be held away from listening devices.
Scarr – the tapes would be held in storage for a set period of time.. but everything be recorded – phone calls in and out etc etc… you’re talking 5 years or so after the fact.
The public at large is probably unaware that even in single party govts there is always a huge amount of debate within the cabinet. If it’s gonna be in the public eye 2 days later then those debates will stop, because otherwise the papers will have headlines, even after basic disagreements like:
CABINET SPLIT – IS KENNYS LEADERSHIP IN DOUBT? …and we will have an even more top heavy system than we have now with the cabinet there to just rubber stamp the Taoiseachs ideas.
Pfft , the crowd that bug the garda ombudsman’s offices in abbey street do this already.
Srg – I understand the principle, the reality would be more off-site meetings.
To the sound of running water!
This is yellow pack FG. Lucinda is a 24ct, dyed-in-the-wool, Blue Blouse and will end up supporting FG in opposition next year…….. if they don’t disintegrate before that.
Ridiculousness isn’t it why do they even bother.
Fg all over again
Which policies indicates that?
Anyone?
Me… :-) a party that’s full of crap :-)
Who’s the old guy asleep in the chair? (2nd from the right.)
Couldn’t even stay awake for his own party’s launch. Definitely a vote-getter.
Nah oisin, he’s the guy who has to sweep up and lock the doors when they are gone.
Eddie Hobbes says financial reasons stop him from declaring himself a candidate – is that code for can’t get a tax clearance certificate?
“A tax credit will be introduced…”
No it won’t. At least, not by you shower as you won’t be in power.
If Eddie useless Hobbs is part of that party, then I can safely say they will never ever ever get a vote from my house.
Manure.
Why not just call it the Renua Ireland Party in anticipation of the headlines in a couple of years.
I think I can speak on behalf of everyone in the public sector when I say this new party can go f££& themselves…..
No, you can’t.
That’s the fourth comment I’ve read from a public sector employee (I assume) along the same lines. You’d swear being asked to work for your wages was blasphemy.
Are you afraid that you’ll be asked to perform efficiently?
No ones had to ask me to work efficiently- I already do. What u don’t seem to get is that I object to being told what’s best for the public sector by people who have no knowledge or interest in any thing to do with the public sector but use it a a point scoring exercise to win a few votes from people that are easily swayed….
zzzzzzzzzzzz underwhelmed…..
Anything that has lucindas name on it is totally for lighting the fire or throwing in the bin ..
Terence Flanagan has just single handedly destroyed this new political party in the most appallingly excruciating interview on Radio One….
The Renua Ireland Party!! Can’t be serious! RIP! Wow.
lucinda cretin leopards dont change their spots
42 pages of policies yet no mention of climate change and one derogatory mention of education – not very well thought out
Talking about climate change won’t get anyone elected…
In fairness, it’s a draft policy document, from a political party that technically doesn’t even exist yet. I’d be more interested in watching how they develop between now and the GE…
It’s amazing how an egotist like Hobbs can play out his fantasy of running ireland yet not actually put himself forward for election. The ultimate hurler on the ditch.
Foreign policy; first year we plan to invade poland and annex austria.
Does Lucinda Creighton want more Europe or less ?? She was very pro federal Europe awhile back even pushing the fiscal treaty more than Heir Kenny. That treaty was a dud it appears fir the Irish and a winner for the Germans .
A fair question.
Mutton dressed as lamb, Never in a million years would I vote for these right wing Catholic Fascists. They would bring Ireland back to the dark ages and let the Catholic Church run the country again.
Nice brochure, what kind of bird is that, I mean the yellow and blue and red one on the brochure?
Pretty sure that’s a shitehawk.
A bird of pray!
beautiful!!!!!
Welcome to the political arena, thanks for putting your head above the parapet, personally I welcome any political party that is prepared to work within the law at all times, not just when it suits them, like SF and some of the independents.
get back beneath your parapet there, Kevin.
Pro-life and anti-Sinn Fein. We’re off to a good start anyway.
They will eat into FG votes leaving the door wide open for Sinn Fein
Agree Niallers, Last thing this country needs is another right wing Corrupt Party. It will give SF an even better chance (I would not be happy with at that, as long as Adams is leading the way. They should get rid of him)
No political connections whatsoever, but jaysus your damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Every day I read comments blasting the current politics in Ireland (and righty so). As soon as there is a movement for change the naysayers reappear. I have to say the comments are grossly unfair. Granted the leader is pro life but at least she has set up the party to allow for choice, party whips have been a big issue on moral choices in politics. Hold your comments on candidates too, wait and see the make up and profile of their candidates I have a funny feeling we will see the majority are not current Fine Gael politicians, from what I have read they have opened the process to encourage new faces in politics, again a constant issue in Irish politics. The policies might not (yet) be as polished as other political parties established for nigh on 100 years but it looks (to me) like the result of this will be some new ideas thrown into the ring. If that’s all it does I’m bloody happy bed cause the alternative is the same auld crap from the same old faces when election time comes around next year. Best of luck to you, don’t know if you’ll get my vote yet, but best of luck
A fair portion of the negative commenters here seem politically illiterate.
Just young angry hurlers on the ditch. If they could reference a policy or something tangible I’d listen to their point, but right now it’s not worth it.
Well said sir. I was about to post a comment similar to yours but you already got there. It’s just typical Irish isn’t it? We moan and complain about the current political status and then a person (even if she is ex-FG) takes the initiative and launches a new political party and the moaning and complaining reaches an even higher level. Never bloody happy! Give them a chance. They are a new party. They are not going to have the answers for everything yet. These things take time. I think “better the devil you know” is such an Irish mantra yet all we do about the devil we know is complain about them. We are being given another choice, a party that is promising “openness” which, let’s be frank, is something that none of the current establishment offers us. Personally, I am reserving judgement until their candidates have been selected and the GE goes into full swing and then we will see what they are made of in terms of their policies and ideas. But at least I am giving them a chance to showcase what they are made of which is a lot more that can be said about 95% of the comments here.
Agreed. I have (serious) reservations about some of the personalities associated with Renua, but I’ve had a quick read of their draft policy document, and it seems to tick a lot of the boxes that I feel need ticking. It’ll be interesting to see if they can do enough between now and the GE to overcome my cynicism around the people.
I expect a lot of young-FG members to swamp these articles.
The young blueshirts would never attack the Cretins new party, as they aren’t ideologically different, SF and other left wing groupings-now thats a different story for them. This new party is going to do very little damage to FG anyway, they might win 5 seats and votes they take off FG will probably be transferred straight back to them when they most of their candidates get eliminated.
This party will do more damage to the weak SF and labour voters IMO, possibly some unenthused ff and a smattering of disillusioned FGers who didn’t get the political revolution they expected and are sick of the cronyism. Other FGers of the same vain will hang on for Leo’s time as leader of FG.
I’m objective about them, unlike many on here who are big on nitpicking, but short on facts. I’ll read their manifesto and depending on that, right now, they have my vote to lose.
You wont be seeing anyone from the working class in that party,same old elitists,same old shite.
A party for elites,by elites!
I hope nobody else has beaten me to it, but Urean is the anagram….
Are they taking the piss?
The Flanagan TD interview on Rte radio was cringeworthy , embarrassing and whatever your having yourself.
You can hear him rattling papers trying to find answers to questions. Even the interviewer was embsrassed and ended the interview.
How did this man ever get elected is a bigger worry. Rte player around 5.15pm.
Embarrassing is not the word!
if looks like fg, quacks like fg, its fg. buzzword open why not transparent. they really think we are stupid.
I wouldn’t blame them for ruling out a coalition with SF, even ISIS wouldn’t touch them at this stage.
It’s so exciting ! Wealthy people’s party games.
Bunch of cowboys
Cabinet confidentiality is a must. Our PR system lets us have many types of party but to get a strong government we need cohesion at the top. Otherwise, we may as well just run the state like a county council and take the real power from the politicians to someone who can make a painful decision.
Am i reading that right, is their policy a first past the post electoral system? If it is, small parties hardly ever get seats. It’s daft for them.
That there shows how much faith they have in their own ability to get any policy into law.
Is that it god it’s depressing it was very amateurish something like a group of 12 year olds would come up with
I’ll give this new fine gael party 3 months.
Renua Gael – Change we can believe in!
All very well to look for more power for local government, but that requires a whole mindset change for the electorate who elect TD’s to fix potholes, sort out medical cards, organise social housing and attend funerals instead of being elected to legislate for the country as a whole – look at the Healy-Rae’s as an example.
RENUA? Isn’t that the name of a company that paints old baths?
Or could it be:
Rejected
Eejits’
Nugatory
Unnecessary
Alliance?
the only truth I read was that they wont be backing up sinn fein. how could they without any t.d’s
Heh. Somebody made an excellent official-looking Renua Ireland facebook parody page to take the piss out of these right-wing wasters.
Why can’t Lucinda get Paul Murphy Claire Daly and the other anti austerity TDs on board for her new party?
She needs to broaden her appeal or the new party could appear too pro establishment.
When you think of Creighton you think of abortion but the policy line is too wishy washy and she seems to be reaching out to liberals by softening her line.
It’s all very confusing.
Deliberately confusing – unless of course they really don’t know what they’re doing.
I would say it’s more to do with leaving themselves wiggle room for populist drum banging. It’s hard to jump on a bandwagon that might get you more votes when your party policy clearly outlines that you’re against it.
I for one welcome our new insect overlords
What about a united Ireland Lucinda? You would be in favor of that, wouldn’t you? Then again, a former Blueshirt … probably not.
Fine Gael with the Church controlling it.
the birds of a feather reboot my ass
Just watched some of the launch on TV, it was like the launch of a new breakfast cereal commercial, we have a new box, its still porridge.
No need whatsoever for another neo liberal party
Pro-Life? The Journal has a new public enemy no1.
Kenny is a bully,talking Irish with his cronies behind him,the great lad. Miriam put in his place,quangos and his mates getn cushy numbers. He changed nothing. He is a fraud. And that pricj varadkar playing candycrush when leaders questions is on really does tell you that fg are the party of change. Living in a bubble they are. Don’t get started on the smarmy bastand Noonan and the greatest cun# of all Phil Hogan.
Renua has just alienated all public servants by Eddie Hobbs statement and they are for big business and the wealthy a watery Fine Gael ,not for me thank you
There’s a lot of nothing in there. Hard to see how they’re going to fit in to the current structure, or how they’re going to differentiate themselves from what anyone else in saying.
Now there’s only room left open for a Libertarian party in Ireland. Maybe I should start one.
“free from the orthodoxy of vested interests”
Bullsh%t. This is true for both public sector funded consultants AND the private sector. As if the private sector has no vested interests.
Proper reform is needed. Not geared toward one sector or the other. Make the shysters pay for their greediness.
Stupid name for a party why couldn’t they just use the English version, as most people won’t have a clue what ‘renua’ means.
Who advised/allowed lucinda creighton to wear what looks like a straight jacket for her press launch?
Mary Harney take a bow.if your able
Losers.
I can see that freeloaders and lazy officialdom would want to give this party a wide berth.
The first thing they do is set up a bank account for contributions. Sounds like same old same old. Use other people’s money — will Eddie and the rest mortgage their homes to start their new careers/business?
Continuity Fine Gael. They FoK right off.
Ara it wouldn’t mind giving them a vote but Sinn Fein will be getting a vote from me so they will have to get along :D
FG light
FG heavy!
Good luck to them. More choice isn’t a bad thing
They want to abolish the top rate of USC for self-employed people such as barristers,consultants,solicitors,auctioneers etc. That’s reform lucinda style.
Oh yawn…..same old same old….
Good luck you are very brave need a bit of honesty.lets give then a chance better than those chancers in government.
What did Eddie Hobbs mean when he said the state own Irish water and not the people on the late late show
One press conference to lose the entire Public Service workers( and their familys) vote.
The cynicism of Irish people towards their politicians appears to lay waste to the old adage, innocent until proven guilty…
There’s no such thing as an innocent politician in this country, at least not a party politician. The whip system doesn’t allow it, among other things.
Ha… Thank you Mary… Just as I was saying!
The real cynicism is coming from renua : Their epic levels of vagueness and they can’t tell us if eddie is going to run or not. Sunshine politics indeed.
Good name good logo but that’s about it so far. They really need to get their act together and come out with some confident solid policies and not be making ‘ mistakes’ . They had the opportunity to hit the ground running and failed miserably . Eddie Hobs indecisiveness on running as a candidate immediately projects a lack of self belief in his own party!!
Renew me
Renew my life today oh Lord
I don’t want to be the same
Renew my life today oh Lord
place in me your perfect heart.
In my life and thoughts there are, so many things
that need the change that only You can bring
And I need to be transformed,
into your likeness O God
Change this heart inside of m
Taken from http://lyricstranslate.com/en/Renew-me-Renew-me.html#ixzz3UM6uzWHx
I really can’t understand why there is not a single political party that mentions the three biggest problems of Ireland: alcohol abuse, drug abuse and junkies haunting Dublin City Centre!
have your say