Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Updated at 6.30pm
GALWAY EAST TD Sean Canney has this morning announced that he is leaving the Independent Alliance.
In a statement, Canney said that he informed his colleagues of his decision this morning and that he will still support the Government on budgetary matters.
He said: “I have today informed my Independent Alliance colleagues that I am leaving the group. I wish the Independent Alliance all the best in the future.
“I confirm that I will continue to support the Government on issues of confidence and budgetary matters.
“National issues such as Brexit are a threat to our country. I believe that we will need to work collectively to protect Ireland’s interests. Other areas of concern are housing, health services and flooding and the increasing challenges faced by small family farmers and rural dwellers.”
In a statement, the Independent Alliance said:
The Independent Alliance note the departure of Sean Canney from the group and we wish him well in the future.
Last week, it was reported that Canney and Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran had been having an argument about who gets to be minister.
In order for the Independent Alliance to go into government with Fine Gael, they had a wish-list of items they wanted before they signed on the dotted line.
This included that they would get a certain number of jobs. A deal was done over the role of the Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, whereby it was decided the role would alternate between two members of the IA.
It’s understood the Canney and Boxer Moran flipped a coin to decide who would take up the first stint.
Canney was appointed to the role for the first year of the minority government and then Boxer Moran took over a year later.
A row developed over who would get the third year.
In an interview on the Today with Sean O’Rourke show on RTÉ Radio One, Canney said he ”didn’t feel comfortable there”.
Canney is still the Government assistant whip, and said it is the prerogative of the Taoiseach to decide whether he should remain in that position. Having met with the Taoiseach this week, Sean Canney told Sean that he wants to support the government,
“I went to the Taoiseach and told him that if I do leave, it doesn’t change my support for the government and my drive to make sure that the programme for government is put in place,” he added.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie in Cork today, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said Canney is “still very supportive of the government”.
“The issue that he has is really a matter for Sean and the Independent Alliance. I wouldn’t interfere in the inner workings of other parties. I would consider myself a good friend of Sean Canney, I would work very closely with him. I worked very closely with him during the programme for government negotiations,” said the Tánaiste, who added that he is confidence that Canney will continue to support the government as an independent.
Coveney denied that this is the first crack in the government.
“No, I don’t think so, this is very much an internal issue for them, it really is a matter for the Independent Alliance to manage that. My concern and responsibility is that Sean and the other independents that support the government are happy in that partnership,” he said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
You can get some dodgy fifty euro notes in the south. This is old news, to me anyhow.
You are dead right Paul. You earn the money you decide how to spend it. If I lived closer to the border I would definitely shop north. The biggest reason for higher prices here is “rip off”. And to all the red thumb merchants. B******s.
Dead right, I buy Irish goods from Irish suppliers and English goods from English suppliers. Why should I buy English goods at inflated prices from an Irish middle man? Only exception I make is on the rare occasion when I have bought Irish goods in England cheaper than in Ireland. Now that’s wrong pricing somewhere surely! Source of origin on food labels is misleading and almost impossible to ascertain. For instance a food product can be imported from abroad and repackaged with a local suppliers ID labelling, so the country of origin is lost to the consumer.
Why tell them that? They are worse than the TD’s stealing from the people. People who shop in the north should go live up there and earn their living up there. If they ever need an ambulance , fire brigade, police, etc go and call the services up north as that is what you are doing by shopping up there. If you want to keep the few people who have jobs in work in the south ie your neighbour or family member than stay and pay a little towards their employment. Dare I suggest you reduce your purchases by 10% in the south and everybody would be better off. When I see the fat people from the south pushing trolled in the stores up north I think they could do with a lot less shopping.
I go up north and do some shopping. I did it last weekend actually! I spent 170 euro on beer, and a net book. Everything else was more or less the same price or cheaper down south. But I didn’t go up north to save money ( although I did ) I went up for the day out. I can’t afford holidays anywhere. I stay at my house for my holidays. I work and have practically zero left ( some months less than zero left) each month. I pay way more than my fair share of taxes and I am entitled to spend 175 euro while I am on my ( holidays).
I assume that you holiday at home, buy only Irish products every week?
Don’t judge me, you don’t know me! Besides, I believe in a United Ireland. Our government has cross border trade and governmental institutions set up. If our government says by it’s actions that it is ok then it’s ok by me. And another thing, the majority of the civil construction tenders are awarded by our government departments to northern construction companies because of price, so cop on and grow up.
I use PayPal for everything
Interesting that you judge me – I may be disabled for all you know! Construction workers are loosing jobs to northern contractors you say – I rest my case. When you are directly impacted it is wrong yet when our retailers and producers are impacted it is not a concern to you. It makes the case for the government shopping up north for cheaper contractors. I think it is wrong yet I am on my own on this I think.
We have plenty of fake banknotes down here. They are called “euros”.
Just use a credit card for shopping And pay it off in full, easiet way.
have your say