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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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Im sure Putin is terrified.
wow the Anti-Christ bare chested on his horse……Napoleon Hitler Putin…the end is nigh
Wait til Gilmore gets puffed up and starts pontificating… Then Putin will really sh1t his pants……..from laughing!
Arrest these traiters in Dail Eireann from Labour ,FF and FG who have fed our country to the wolves ,STOP this utter invasion of our beautiful country. Depart this monster European Disunity ,Ireland MUST Default and Depart this monster EU
Isn’t it amazing that post the Egyptian military coup, no new sanctions were introduced by the EU.
2 weeks ago, the military there sentenced 1,000 people to death (coincidentally all of the possible contenders in the upcoming presidential elections, and yet the EU didn’t even increase the price of a litre of milk in response.
Does anyone else not wonder where/how the EU is deriving its moral compass from?
http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/4067591-sanctions-against-barbarism
The EU only needed to demand that Russia allows UN peace-keepers into the Eastern regions of Ukraine. That was all it needed to say today. Instead they opted to show their utter hypocrisy when it comes to dealing with regimes that are not aligned to NATO or have the full backing of the US.
Some people espoused that Ireland should be ready to join NATO or support giving the EU more military power. The recent events clearly show that the EU cannot be trusted to do the right thing. It is only interested in doing what the US wants them to do.
Let me say once more, once the Ukranian people start feeling the pinch of the 50% fuel price hikes, reduction in pension payments from $80 dollars per month down to $40 dollars per month and then witness the sell-off of all of Ukraines fracking rights, coal mines, farmlands to US multi-nationals like Haliburton (All mandated in the EU Rescue package in February), we are going to witness a terrible civil war there. The Russians know it, the EU knows it, damn even the US knows it. But its all in the interests of supporting the likes of Haliburton (The same corporation that made $79 billion dollars on the back of the US led Iraq invasion.
Cal, I debunked that ‘no sanctions on Egypt’ nonsense this morning…pay attention.
As for the 50% fuel hikes – did Russia, or did they not raise the price of gas to Ukraine by 80% in the last couple of weeks?
(I agree with you on the UN issue, though – that is the only reasonable way out of this, in my opinion)
Watcher, you did not debunk anything. Your EU sanctions related to the Morsi government. Not the military coup regime, Go read about it again and challenge me then. The EU have not introduced a single new sanction against the military regime since it took power there.
On your second point, Russia was giving Ukraine subsidies in the form of reduced gas prices (much cheaper than the going market value). They offered even further reductions in December as part of the Russian bailout offer.
After the coup in Kiev, the Ukranian givernment rejected the Russian offer. The took the EU/US bailout with the conditions i already outlined. Why in Gids name would Russia want to subsidize a government that is openly hostile to it. Of course they put the prices back up to normal market prices. Again, if you think i am wrong, then look it up and come back to me with some link to back up your claim.
I wont hold my breath waiting on either of your responses though.
In the short term they will have to be financially bailed out and whoever pays US/IMF/EU or Russia is going to need stability in Ukraine so it’s debts are repaid in the long term
I wouldn’t be surprised if the US would settle for letting the country split/partition and just make the most of a more favorable pro-western Ukraine.
“I won’t hold my breath….” – best you don’t. It’ll be morning before I come back to you. Watch this space.
Stephen, I 100% agree … This entire crises is artificial and I would not be one bit surprised if the US and Russians had this planned all along. Divide and conquer.
The Russians will get the East of Ukraine and the US multinationals will get the West.
Unfortunately in neither case does it work out well for the Ukranians who actually feel Ukranian.
The Ethnic Russians will be laughing. They will have got what they wanted all along.
Just to keep you amused, in the meantime – http://europeansanctions.com/category/egypt/
21st March 2014 – Renewal of sanctions against Egypt by the EU. Morsi’s been gone since June 2013.
Cal. Why do you seem just to demonize US multinationals? Do you not think Putin’s Oligarchical buddies are salivating at what Vlad might throw their way?. Welcome to the world of Realpolitik.
@ Stephen … Suffice to say a prison !
Watcher, these were renewal sanctions … and if you read the sanction list, it is aimed at people who supported Morsi. Like i said already, not one new sanction. No sanctions against the regime that announced last week it intended to murder 1,000 people who belong to the opposition party.
Please correct me if i am wrong on any of this.
Stephen, i know that the Russian oligarchs are licking their lips at the prospect of getting their hands on the Ukranian gas fields in the Eastern regions.
Only an idiot would believe that this entire crises is about looking after people. It is not.
My entire point of view is based on the EU leading its citizens towards either 1 of of the 2 following scenarios.
1) A trade war with Russia. Gas and Oil shortages for EU citizens countries leading to vastly increased fuel prices for the average EU and Irish citizen. We can’t take any more as it is.
2) The EU sending troops into Ukraine and the very likely prospect of a war. Russia is one of Irelands export destinations.
In neither scenario, is it good for the Irish people. The multinationals (US/EU/Russians) are laughing because they make money out of conflicts. But the people suffer. I hope you appreciate my perspective on the issue.
Absputly right!!
Cal, watcher is a US cheerleader. Love the warmongering US. Let’s hope the freedom fighters in east Ukraine manage to protect themselves from the western backed fascist regime in Kiev.
Ahh, come off it, Nicole. I am not pro-US. Just because I challenge what I see as factual errors in other peoples arguments doesn’t mean I support the US. Point out one post of mine that is actually pro-US. No? Thought not. On this topic, my position is pro-Ukraine, and to be frank, I am very worried about the prospect of war in Eastern Europe and the consequences for all of us.
Watcher, you are best to deprive Nicole of Oxygen. Relax Cal, I don’t mean that literally, in the sense ‘don’t feed the frightful troll’ .Cal likes reporting people to the journal – a sensitive soul, who lives in fear of a CIA black-ops team taking him out. IF you don’t support Putin -you are a neo-con warmonger according to Cal and Nicole. They seem to believe Russian agents with the assistance of former Berkut officers (a lovely bunch) are not fomenting trouble in Eastern Ukraine -its just a co-incidence that 10 state facilities were seized in a co-ordinated attack -despite one ‘officer’ in charge identifying himself to a number of news agencies as a Colonel in the Russian army. Also no violence occurred when these ‘peaceful protesters’ seized the police stations. News pictures beg to differ with a police Colonel getting a savage beating by a crowd of ‘peaceful protesters’ and camera crews attacked from the BBC.
Rob, I mightn’t agree with him most of the time, but you’re not being fair lumping Cal in with Nicole. Cal at least is prepared to produce arguments to support his position when challenged, rather than resorting to childish name-calling.
Must be just me he calls a fascist war-monger nutjob then -despite the fact I do not advocate war (100 years on from the slaughter in Europe, we need to learn the lesson of history) God, maybe I should take a long hard look at myself…
I’m not really sure he cares!
Hypocracy at its finest
Hypocracy? Rule by Hippos? Or Rule by poor spellers?
Your poor comments Tony..
Toothless beasts sending warning
Foreign Ministers roundly condemned the illegal armed activity in Eastern Ukraine over recent days,” ”
- wow – they are really talking tough !!!!!!!!!!!!.
”Preparatory work is underway on Phase Three economic measures so that further steps can be taken should events require.””
– In other words they are close to doing FA – and that’s about all they can do – as EU is dependent on Russian gas – not that US cares – but if there is action – Russia will hit the $ by not doing their oil deals in $ – and the Yanks do care about that – it would finish the vastly overvalued $ .
Can’t wait to read nicola’s response
Mike, go back into your little FF world
Hahaha…. that was worth waiting for..
Seriously Nicole, you wanna give up mixing your meds with booze.
that was a little disappointing! Although Mike, normally Eirigi types just throw paint.
Putin is peeping threw o bamas back window ✌
through
I read this article with a little interest , I’d like to ask the author is he actually aware that information regarding the Ukraine that’s doesn’t just follow our and a NATO agenda …. I suggest he read the open letter that Putin had sent to 18 eu members to help stabilise the situation in spite of us supporting a facist coup d’état , u suggest you read it …. And honestly patronising people like this is hilarious …..
http://en.itar-tass.com/russia/727287
Gary,
The US/EU are managing the media outlets very very well. We are sold propaganda 24×7. Russia is always the bad guy and the EU/US are always the good guys. It is simply sickening what/how the media is being controlled.
Luckily people like you and me are able to broaden the average citizens minds by highlighting non-EU/US views on the matter. If we don’t tell the truth and ensure that our political masters know that we will not follow them blindly forever, they could go a step too far and impact every single one of us personally.
The timeline of events and circumstances referred to in that letter apply to the period that Yanukovich was in power. Says it all really…
The Western media don’t hold a patent on misinformation. Both sides are at it, as the above linked letter from Putin proves – he describes a series of events that apparently (according to him) led to the current economic crisis in Ukraine, and tries to pin the blame on the interim government and the Maidan movement, despite the fact that the events he described occurred while he and his puppet ran the country.
Watcher,
It is clearly documented that Russia offered to reduce gas/oil prices even further than the subsidized prices they were receiving back in December. This was on condition that they take the Russian bailout deal rather than the EU deal. The Russian bailout was worth more than the EU bailout and had many less conditions associated with it compared to the EU ‘rape and pillage’ package on offer.
Are you seriously going to deny this or are you going to admit your information/comment was wrong?
Just look at the state of the place now & the killer austerity measures haven’t even been introduced yet. & considering a substantial amount of our energy comes from Russia it’s clear some of idiot leaders are devoid of any common sense , what if Russia reacts to these ludicrous threat of sanctions and reduces our energy supply ? Worse … What if they decide to take payment for oil in rubles …. ?? I mean the consequence of that would be serious in the extreme…… These EU heads of state …. There doesn’t appear to be a statesman among them.
@ Cal
fortunately were not alone
both CNN and MSNBC had lost nearly half their audience over 2012 with the two networks losing 59% and 52% respectively in the crucial demographic of viewers aged 25 to 54.
By all accounts advertising revenue has plummeted in mains stream media outlets and it would appear that people are getting sick of agenda driven outlets …… & of course the truth is a lot more intriguing than most of the conventional crap that so called journalists are boring , patronising and bombarding us with …. Just listen to some of the leaked telephone conversations be it over the Ukraine or Turkey …. I mean u couldn’t find better in a James bind novel … :)
Do you realise the irony of saying The West are the propagandists here? Putin took control of all major media in Russia, not through PR or spin, literally threatened editors out of business, those who resisted were jailed. Not to mention any print journalist who dares challenge the Putin line. They feel the full force of Putin’s “freedom of expression”
Today different Russian stations showed interviews with a doctor, a pro Russian activist in Ukraine and an alleged German spy. Great reporting….apart from the fact they were all the same person (rolling actors as they are known in Russia).
Your problem is you place Russia and the West on par morally. They are not. Journalists in the West aren’t risking their lives or freedom telling another side of the story. Young Turks? Jon Stewart? Michael Moore? All produce news products deeply critical of the West (and they are right to do so) I don’t see Obama threatening to take over Comedy Central.
@ Tony ,
that’s a fair a good point … But I’m not sticking up for Mr. Putin … I’m just laughing at our so called journalists bombarding us with patronising and boring agenda driven crap …. It’s even more laughable because real and truthful information is so readily available thanks to the internet … That politicians and so called main stream journalists are slowly but surely been seen as brown nosing laughing stocks …
@Gary. My comment wasn’t directed at you. Its at those who think Putin is infallible and the big bad West is all to blame. You are correct, it is easy to see through the one sided agenda of the big media corporates. And I would argue (or at least hope) most of those on here promoting a pro-west view are aware of the major flaws in the West, but objectively reason for all its flaws the West is a better bet than Putin’s Russia.
Tony,
not one person i have seen commenting so far has said Putin is an Angel. However you just need to watch any EU/Irish/US channel and they are all pointing the finger at Russia for starting this conflict. They are not reporting that as early as December, before the militants in Kiev overthrew the democratically elected President, the EU and US had agreed sanctions against Ukraine for refusing to take their bailout deal. We are as oblivious to our EU/US governments wrong doing, as the Russian people are to their leaders wrong-doing.
There is another article on Journal.ie today discussing a Bradley/Chelsea Manning. This guy exposed the NSA’s illegal spying campaign (it is illegal under the 4th amendment of the US constitution).. This guy has just been sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for highlighting an illegal activity. He also published videos of US forces slaughtering innocent civilains and laughing/congratulating each other. Did the murderers go to prison? Did they hell … They probably ended up getting medals for their bravery.
Russia has a lot to answer for. But it is pure and sickening hypocrisy for commeters to say that Russia is the bad guy in all this, when clearly the US/EU were the instigators for forcing Ukraine to accept a bailout deal that was not in the Ukranian peoples best interest.
Tony, how many civilians have the West killed in armed conflict over the last 10 years. How many have the Russians during the same time period?
If you answer that question truthfully and the Russians come out the bad guys, i will desist from trying to give an alternative point of view. However, if its blatantly obvious to the most ignorant person that the US/EU have murdered many many multiples of civilians compared to Russia (‘while trying to bring democracy’), i hope you will acknowledge that your argument holds no water.
All these warnings coming from various countries and agencies towards Putin, reminds me of the
Team America depiction of Hans Blix.
Here’s how a possible conversation between Putin and Obama could go…..
Obama: “Putin, stop being a d*ck, or else.”
Putin: “Or else what?”
Obama: “Or else, we will be angry with you, and we will release loads of tv sound bytes,
telling the world how angry we are with you.”
Putin: Pfft!
Bs….those insurgents are Ukrainian citizens…millions of people, who don’t like the new junta. This simple.
Millions? Really?
Watcher, by the time the Kiev administration completes implementing all the bailout preconditions like halving pension payments down to $40 dollars per month, increasing petrol prices by 50-70%, there will be many millions out protesting. Watch this space.
The EU/US media have glossed over these conditions and have labelled the bailout as ‘saving’ Ukraine, or ‘Emergency Rescue Package’ etc …
They are not being honest with the people in Ukraine or in Europe.
more like hundreds to thousands. A junta? which is calling elections in May? and has resisted using violence in the face of massive provocation..
Cal, Tristan posted in the present tense. We have no way of knowing for sure what will or will not happen in the future in Ukraine, but the elections in May should give a good indication as to which way their future lies. There equally well may be millions out in the streets fighting a Russian invasion – we just can’t say..
Really! East and south of the country is more than half of Ukrainian population. Google it more education doesn’t hurt.
@ Mike ,
Good summary not sure about point 10, especially when you consider the calibre of people trying to legalise marijuana … Peter Soros for 1, plus marijuana makes people dopy if not aggressive and paranoid over time & a real burden on their loved ones …..
“marijuana makes people dopy if not aggressive and paranoid”
Was that aimed at me you sick arrogant pr*ck?
Yeah Ma … i do want bread on the side and don’t put too much milk in it either, otherwise you have to start again.
Cal, you are a joke -you throw insults around at will on this and then act ridiculously sensitive when people retort…
Do we really want to be part of this ?
Kinda worrying how inept, powerless & spineless the EU, NATO and the US are in dealing with this thug Putin, it seems history is quickly forgotten.
Goodbye eastern Ukraine! Where will the Russians stop?
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