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POLITICAL PARTY INDEPENDENT Ireland, formed last November, describes itself as “the party of common sense”.
Now, they have secured 23 local councillors across the country, and have taken one of 14 seats available in the European Parliament, with the election of former RTÉ correspondent, Ciaran Mullooly.
Considered so far to be a right-leaning political party, it was founded by then-Independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue.
Its parliamentary team consists of the two founders and TD Michael Fitzmaurice. Michael Collins is the party leader.
Its main priorities as a party include securing Irish borders, freezing and reforming the Carbon Tax, and implementing urgent planning reform. The party has pledged to “reduce the climate burden on the Irish taxpayer”, and protect farmers and fishermen from EU regulations and “unattainable targets”.
It also promises to deliver “urgent changes to mental health services with early intervention and respite programs”.
In the elections, they ran a total of 60 candidates locally, and three MEP candidates — and have seemingly been met with unprecedented success.
A total of 23 Independent Ireland candidates were elected as councillors to local authorities across the last number of days, to councils Carlow, Cavan, Cork City, Cork County, Dublin City, Galway County, Kildare, Limerick City and County, Mayo, Offaly, Roscommon, South Dublin, Westmeath, and Wicklow.
Independent Ireland now officially has 23 councillors across 14 councils: 40% of the total number of candidates that it ran for election. Having run eight female candidates, only one was elected: Linda de Courcy in the Clondalkin Local Electoral Area (LEA), taking a seat on the South Dublin County Council.
Despite its success as the youngest party running for election, 12 of Independent Ireland’s candidates in the local elections were incumbents.
Eleven of these councillors have been re-elected. Two candidates — Noel Larkin and Danny Collins — have served as Mayor of Galway City and Mayor of Cork County, respectively. Incumbent Ken O’Flynn has served as deputy Lord Mayor of Cork City.
Larkin lost his seat, making him the only incumbent running as an Independent Ireland candidate to do so.
Independent Ireland currently has three TDs, though eliminated MEP candidate Niall Boylan has teased potentially running in the next general election.
Don’t forget the podcast will be back live each day from Monday and I’ve a lot to talk about when it comes to Irish elections. Will I be running in the General Election? Will I go back to radio? All will be revealed on Monday.
— Niall Boylan (@Niall_Boylan) June 13, 2024
All three Independent Ireland TDs were elected as Independent candidates, rather than party members.
This invites the question: is the party’s success as great as it seems?
Independent Ireland underwent a recruitment phase prior to the registration of candidates for election. The party gathered previously Independent incumbents, and those seeking to leave their parties, to run for the party in the local elections.
Newly elected MEP Ciaran Mullooly has previously said that he had received an invitation from TD Michael Fitzmaurice to run for Independent Ireland in the elections.
Current councillor Seamus Walsh was the first Independent Ireland candidate to be elected locally. He announced his resignation from government party Fianna Fáil in March. Now, he has been re-elected to Galway County Council as a member of the Independent Ireland party.
Collins welcomed his two brothers, Danny and John, to Independent Ireland. Both have now been elected to Cork County Council.
Richard O’Donoghue, General Secretary of the party, also saw his brother John O’Donoghue re-elected to Limerick County Council. He had taken Richard O’Donoghue’s seat on the council when he was elected to the Dáil in 2020.
Party leader Michael Collins has been a controversial figure for a number of years.
In an interview with Hot Press in April of this year, Collins issued a series of statements against immigration and called for a ban of the burqa in schools. He rejected the decision to accord Travellers the status of an ethnic minority in Ireland.
Collins described former IRA member Martin McGuinness as a great Irishman and said that he believed God would forgive all former IRA gunmen for sins involved in committing murder.
“Martin McGuinness is not in hell,” he told Hot Press. “Martin McGuinness was a good man.”
He advocated for the legalisation of prostitution, said that rapists and paedophiles should be chemically castrated, and that he doesn’t agree with drink-driving limits.
In 2015, ahead of his bid to run for the Dáil, Collins apologised for writing a character reference for an acquaintance’s son who was subsequently convicted of underage sex.
In December 2021, he was among a group of TDs who proposed a bill in the Dáil that would require pain relief for a fetus during later abortions. The bill was defeated by 107 votes to 36.
Independent Ireland does not operate on a “strict party whip system, and candidates will be free to speak and vote on key issues”.
Following his interview with Hot Press, Collins confirmed to The Journal that he hadn’t informed candidates of his two-hour interview with Hot Press and added that it is not practical to do so.
In the Midlands-North-West constituency, Independent Ireland’s candidate Ciaran Mullooly secured the fifth and final seat for the European Parliament, benefitting from Aontú leader Peader Tóibín’s transfers, picking up 10,093 votes. He beat Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew for the final seat. Ireland South candidate for Independent Ireland, Eddie Punch, was eliminated on count 16.
Mullooly, similarly to fellow Independent Ireland MEP candidates Punch and Niall Boylan, has not previously run for election. Formerly an RTÉ Midlands Correspondent, he now works as a tourism activator for Longford County Council. In the first count of Midlands-North-West, Mullooly topped candidates from government parties, receiving 57,297 first preference votes.
On Tuesday evening, as counts progressed to determine who would be elected to Dublin’s four MEP seats, Independent Ireland’s candidate Niall Boylan was in third place and hopeful of securing a European Parliament seat.
However, Boylan was overtaken by Sinn Féin’s candidate Lynn Boylan, and then slipped from the fourth seat as Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin received a large boost in votes when incumbent Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party was eliminated from the race.
Thank you @Niall_Boylan for giving it everything. To achieve what you did as a first time candidate was nothing short of incredible. You did us all immensely proud. The future is bright for the people of Ireland that want new voices and real change.@michaelC_IND_TD… pic.twitter.com/zCUwR6E7Q8
— Independent Ireland (@independent_ire) June 12, 2024
Punch received a total of 20,751 first preference votes on the first count. A first time candidate, Punch is a farmer and was previously the general secretary of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association. Despite having not previously run for election, Punch still outperformed candidates (in terms of first preferences) from parties Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and Aontú — all of which have sitting TDs.
Punch’s performance in the European Elections, while undoubtedly impressive, is still considerably less so than candidates Mullooly and Boylan, both of whom had a sizeable public presence prior to running.
Boylan is a radio presenter and podcaster. He presented The Niall Boylan Show on Classic Hits 4FM for over six years before departing in April this year, as he announced his candidacy for the European Parliament.
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I always found this to be a patronising & divisive way of being ‘qualified’ to elect such esteemed “leaders”. Yes, I DO have a vote but I’ve never availed of it…… Quite pompous that I’m somewhat more entitled to vote than any of my school mates that studied the trades or wet straight into employment.archaic system that needs replacing
@Buster Lawless: You’re a paragon of virtue all the same Ken.
@Buster Lawless: It’s quite interesting, the difference between how you type when commenting about Irish politics versus your inability to string a coherent sentence together when waffling on about Trump. Like most of the so-called Irish MAGA fans, it’s all just an act.
@Brian: sleep soundly at night, never wronged anyone….. If that’s an issue for you…..we’ll, shocker, I really couldn’t possibly care less.
@Jason Memail: 3 of my children were born stateside, Mrs Lawless & I hold US citizenship & YES we are members of the Republican party& are looking forward to voting ( again) for President Trump…… Suck it up!!!!!
@Buster Lawless: I don’t get the “suck it up” bit. You voted for him last time, and he lost. What’s there to suck up? I mean – he lost? MAGA heads are just weird.
@Buster Lawless: ‘ never wronged anyone’, like I say you’re a paragon of virtue Ken .. lol . And you must care a little bit.. you wouldn’t have replied if you didn’t.. bless. Sleep tight Ken.. Big night for ya tomorrow night LOL.
@Jason Memail: 2016 I canvassed and voted for President Trump before he became the ‘NO WAR’ President….. anyhow, can’t see the link between US elections & voting ‘rights’ to the Seanad so again i’d say …’suck it up’
@Brian: ??? How’d you know I’m going to the Ireland v Greece game?? That’s a bit weird, COYBIG!!!
@Buster Lawless: ha ha..Like when you said you were ‘stateside’ for the weekend whilst commenting on the Darts at Christmas Ken .. you were well busted there ‘ buster ‘ .. You’re some Walter Mitty lad . . Lol.
@Buster Lawless: During Trump’s time as president: Bombed Yemen, Somalia and Syria. Dropped – his words – the ‘mother of all bombs’ on Afghanistan and bragged about it. Assassinated a foreign military leader. Drone strikes in Syria and Iraq alone killed over 13k civilians. Increased troop levels in Afghanistan by 25% freed over 5k Taliban members, including the terrorist now running Afghanistan. Truly, the president of peace – facts don’t care about your feelings. At least you’ll get another chance to rally behind him for ’28.
@Buster Lawless: Trump would say mass in little old Catholic Ireland to fair. Having said that,if he doesn’t get elected,I’d reckon anarchy in america. Why? Because that’s what he wants. It’s all about him. Peace maker me hole…
@Brian: lol, ever look in mirror?? Only joined journal.ie in may…. Haven’t been back in US 2024…. but look if your juvenile ramblings work for you… If they give you a weird sense of validation/value……then you just ignore the posters on here that ridicule you constantly & you go ‘large’ & fill your boots
@Jason Memail: so you people can read? That’s impressive.
Now if you can run along and compile all the wars started by your preference you will see that they’re all the same.
@Buster Lawless: Do you understand why the Seanad was created. I doubt it, as if you did you would realise why it has those seats.
In fairness most of the Senators holding those seats have been people who challenged the status que and the policies of government.
@Buster Lawless: Well that explains a lot, vote away as he is digging himself bigger holes to fall into daily.
@Buster Lawless: The “No War” president, he wanted to invade Venezuela among other countries.
He demanded missions happened which failed miserably with bad results and the generals admit they would not show him information as he was likely to over react and endanger more people.
Oh and then rolling over to get his stomach tickled by the Rocket Man and Putin two dictators.
@jiminybillybob: What you’re conveniently leaving out is that nobody else is trying to paint their preferred candidate as the pinnacle of peace. Yes – they have all started wars, continued wars, dropped bombs, and killed civilians.
Maybe Darragh should totally concentrate on the housing issues. That would be nice for sure….
@Paul Gorry: he is Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, therefore Seanad reform falls under his remit.
@Pat Hazzard: Oh ye get you pat. He’s having a day off.
How about a bill to allow everyone over 18 to vote in the Seanad elections? Remove this stupid elitist education barrier.
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: YES, 100%….. Farcical system at present
At a time when the government are so focused on equality and fairness, why are they still persisting with this system of electing the Seanad. Firstly if we have to have the Seanad let the general electorate vote , secondly, why should someone who “graduated” have more rights than those who didn’t? …..We all play our part in society!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Learn our history and you will learn why the Seanad was created in the fashion it was.
A two house system is known as the best type of government, with the second house, in this case the Seanad having a different make up to the main house, The Dail, for specific reasons.
All makes sense when you read about its set up.
@Gary Kearney: I am well aware of how and why it was set up, and am quite entitled to pass comment on it. I do not agree with the system of election. We should all have a say rather than the so called intellectual core!!
so only a certain class of society would be allowed to vote for them ?
what kind of elitist FFG Scandal is that ?
@Dominic Leleu: Read the history of the Seanad and understand that it was nothing to do with them at all!
The people of the county should have a vote to elected these senators it is called democracy
No harm. Will hopefully end the cosy cartel that currently keeps dark-ages fanatics like Ronan Mullen in a seat.
@Jason Memail: I disagree with Ronan Mullins on a lot of things but his and other dissenting voices are badly needed in our democracy. He and a few others called the last two referendums right and were very vocal.
Whatever you think, his voice and other conservative voices are badly needed.
That said, the university votes need to go.
@Teresa Ryan: A stopped clock is also right every now and then – doesn’t mean it’s something to be celebrated. How many referendums has he been on the losing side for?
The people voted a number of years ago in referendum to keep the Seanad as overseer to government proposed legislation ,when at the time Taoiseach Enda Kenny was pushing for it’s abolition. We were promised after that vote that reform would take place into how”ALL”the citizens of this country would be allowed to vote in senate elections.Still the elitism continues in Seanad Eireann.Shame on us for putting up with this elitism and nonsense.
@Gary Heslin: EK did indeed propose the abolition of the Seanad and as far as I remember suggested “something else” would be put in its place but the alternative wasn’t finalised. Having a Dail without the Seanad didn’t feel safe to me, I voted no. If EK had the alternative ready for me to consider I’d probably have voted yes.
Is it not obscene that the TDs are entertaining making something that is undemocratic and wrong slightly less undemocratic and wrong when they have the opportunity to make it right , by extending the voting rights to all Irish citizens.
I can not understand why a certain body of people is given a vote for this place, which is just a club for the select few. Anyhow, why am I and everybody else being disinfranchised as it’s the taxpayers thats funding this ‘House of Lords’
@Anthony Whoriskey: You are not disinfranchised at all. You simply do not know how it works and that is not the Seanad or the Senators fault
@Gary Kearney: Please explain, seeing as you seem to know how the majority of the electorate is not disenfranchised.
Dáil gives regional representation, which actually is more closely akin to the role of local government. The Seanad SHOULD give sectoral representation, where everbody can vote for representatives in one or 2 chosen sectors such as Agricultural, Education, Manufacturing, Small Business, Environmental, Transport, Fisheries, Communication, Tech, etc. etc.
Perhaps the taoiseachs right to appoint members should go as well
if in place it will need to be removed asap
How timely. We only had the referendum to allow this in 1979…
Should’ve gotten rid of this place when we had the chance. The Dáil is the only institution that can the Senate any power or relevance. Why would any politician create a rival for themselves? It’s never gonna happen.
We’re stuck with this broom cupboard of nobodies for good now.
@Ronan Mc: So you do not understand what the Seanad does or why it is there or how a two house government works. Fine.
Then say that. The Seanad has power and relevance but you don’t understand that as you do not understand as most people how the government and the civil service is run.
Stop all these token appointments to the Seanad. Everyone needs to be voted in. Failed politicians need to find another number, but not at taxpayers expense.
About time. I do vote but it’s the same old same
A second house is there to protect the people from overly powerful governments and it works.
The system of voting needs changing and that is well known and wanted by all.
The demolition of the house only suits parties that want absolute power.
The idea behind the Seanad is to have sectorial representation from across the people in the Seanad.
To have their expertise on hand, for people not having to manage a constituency and get re-elected and to have a different voice on committees, where the real work gets done.
More and more the Seanad is being filled with people who have more modern and inclusive voices but there are some of the old school still there. And there always will be as they are representative of some people.
@Gary Kearney: Well Said!
Very elitist system !! Surely every citizen of Ireland, regardless of whether they have a degree or not, should be able to vote on who sits in the seanad.
So our Taoiseach wouldn’t be allowed to vote
All irish citizens over 18 should have a vote. A new government should be allowed to appoint 11 senators. It is UNDEMOCRATIC.
have your say