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It could be nine months before Independents agree on policies --- Michael Fitzmaurice

The man hoping to bring together a new political force in Irish politics dropped by, on his way to meet a potential future candidate…

TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Updated at 2.30pm

MICHAEL FITZMAURICE — THE recently elected TD hoping to put together a loose alliance of independent politicians — has said it could be nine months before nascent group agrees on a full set of policies.

The Roscommon/South Leitrim deputy — who claimed the Dáil seat vacated by Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan in a by-election last October — has a busy schedule of meetings on the project this week, and further developments are expected in the next few days.

Fitzmaurice dropped in for an interview at TheJournal.ie HQ this morning on his way to a meeting with Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, who’s considering joining the as-yet-unnamed alliance.

The plan came together after Shane Ross contacted him over Christmas, the TD said.

Since then, he’s been busy fielding calls from potential candidates and reckons he now has a list of 12 people willing to run in the next General Election.

Some of them “aren’t even in politics”.

Fitzmaurice spoke to us about the mooted “core principles” being considered by the group, the potential speedbumps they’re likely to face before the country goes to the polls, and the ’1am conversations’ he’s been having about the future of the country…

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Read: Shane Ross says his new alliance will ‘absolutely uproot politics in this country’

Read: Christy Burke wants to team up with Ming’s successor … maybe

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    Mute AyZYVV6F
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:25 PM

    Thevamount of people who drive with their fog lights on WHEN IT’S NOT FOGGY!!

    120
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    Mute shellakybooky
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:45 PM

    @tooler doogan: and probably don’t use them in the fog then.

    71
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    Mute AyZYVV6F
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    Apr 8th 2019, 11:11 PM

    @shellakybooky: spot on

    26
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    Mute Earl of Daventry
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    Apr 8th 2019, 9:53 PM

    Most crashes in fog are people trying to find their fog lights.

    82
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    Mute Glenn k ☘☘
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:02 PM

    @Earl of Daventry: the amount of clowns i meet daily who cannot even manage to put any kind of light on.gob$hites.

    174
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    Mute Tom Nolan
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:36 PM

    @Glenn k ☘☘: or those clowns that have EVERY single light on

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    See 4 more replies ▾
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    Mute Tom Nolan
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:38 PM

    @Glenn k ☘☘: or those clowns that have EVERY single light on in the middle of the day

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    Mute Anthony
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    Apr 9th 2019, 2:57 AM

    @Earl of Daventry: well that’s not true.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Apr 9th 2019, 9:05 AM

    @Earl of Daventry: and your evidence for this is?……

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 9th 2019, 9:46 AM

    @Tom Nolan: or those that have all the lights on but there’s nobody home !

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    Mute Mark Plunkett
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:37 PM

    That movie the FOG is on later,I heard it’s not to be MIST.

    63
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    Mute Michael Carolan
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:44 PM

    @Mark Plunkett: what a joker

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Apr 8th 2019, 9:53 PM

    Take care out there people, it’s foggy!

    38
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    Mute ed w
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    Apr 8th 2019, 10:56 PM

    do no trust your car if you only have daytime running lights on your rear lights are most likely off.please at least put on your sidelights to ensure your rear lights are on please !

    27
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    Mute John O'Connell
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    Apr 8th 2019, 11:54 PM

    Anyone that knowingly drives around during the day in clear conditions with their fog lights on must have a lower than average I.Q. The scary thing is, every second car appears to be driven by one of these F.Wits!

    30
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    Mute John Carton
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    Apr 8th 2019, 11:16 PM

    It should be law to drive with lights on regardless of fog more lights the better lights save lives I drive with my front fog lights on when its after dusk you still get people driving with no lights on that’s how people get killed pulling out with on coming car with no lights on

    16
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    Mute AyZYVV6F
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    Apr 8th 2019, 11:35 PM

    @John Carton: fog lights are for fog, used in clear conditions they can be blinding on oncoming traffic at night time or worse in wet conditions they reflect off the road making it very dangerous for others, Fog lights are for fog hence the name!

    65
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    Mute John O'Connell
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    Apr 8th 2019, 11:45 PM

    @John Carton: Nob

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    Mute Arya
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    Apr 8th 2019, 9:56 PM

    Fog fog go away…it is Spring. Didn’t you get the F.ing memo.

    15
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    Mute liam ward60
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    Apr 8th 2019, 9:57 PM

    Dont care wont be out in it til 5 30 am train to Dublin on weds morning

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    Mute Jake
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    Apr 9th 2019, 5:57 AM

    @liam ward60: the commuter dream

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    Mute Denis McClean
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    Apr 9th 2019, 12:15 AM

    Just think about it … fogs lights are for mist/fog … driving with headlights and fog-lights when there is no mist/fog during daytime means they are getting closer and closer to replacement and they will fail early, most likely during night/mist/fog when you really should have them.

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    Mute finbarr walsh
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    Apr 8th 2019, 9:57 PM

    How many idiots will still drive with their lights off in the morning and complain about people with front fogs on. Remember parking lights are for parked cars

    71
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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Apr 9th 2019, 1:18 AM

    @finbarr walsh: 1,236 on my last count, hold a sec, there’s another ‘jaysus that’s 1,237, going to start losing count soon methinks.

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    Mute Radek Hurt
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    Apr 8th 2019, 11:04 PM

    Usually have my fog lights off when I sleep.

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    Mute JeremiahMcDonagh
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    Apr 9th 2019, 8:21 AM

    What’s a fog light or a parking light

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