Potential alliance with McDowell at helm is welcomed by the Taoiseach

LEO Varadkar has welcomed the potential creation of a new political alliance led by Michael McDowell, saying ‘the more the merrier’.

The Irish Mail on Sunday yesterday reported that Mr McDowell was in talks with a range of independent TDs to potentially form a new political alliance ahead of the next election. While the new grouping would not be a formal political party, it may, if successful, hold the balance of power after the next election.

Asked if he would work with such a grouping to help form the next government, the Taoiseach said: ‘When it comes to politics, you know, I say more the merrier.

‘So if there’s going to be a new party or new alliance, best of luck to them.’

However, Mr Varadkar added that many new parties fail to get off the ground. ‘What I do know is that nearly every year or two there’s a new party being established and most don’t make an impact,’ he said. ‘The sum is less than the parts generally speaking and few manage actually to make it to government. As far as I’m concerned, the more choice people have, the better.’

The Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr McDowell was in talks with at least seven TDs to translate anti-Government sentiment into political power in the wake of the Coalition’s emphatic referendum defeat. While Mr McDowell has not made clear his intentions yet, there is increasing speculation that he is preparing to return to frontline politics. Mr McDowell would likely stand in Dublin Bay South, making that constituency the most competitive and highprofile race of the next general election. Fine Gael will be seeking to re-take a seat there, after Eoghan Murphy stood down a number of years ago.

Also under threat would be Ivana Bacik, the leader of the Labour Party and Eamon Ryan, the leader of the Green Party.

Sources said that the new grouping would work as a loose association with McDowell as the ‘people’s watchdog’.

In Washington this week, Mr Varadkar rejected the analysis that there was a ‘liberal bubble’ in Leinster House – despite all the major political parties backing the referendums.

He said: ‘I honestly don’t think so. These are particular referendums. And the public assessed the proposals put in front of them. And they decided in their wisdom to reject them. And we accept that and we will respect it in full.’

He said previous referendums were different. ‘When it came to the repeal of the eighth or the marriage equality referendum, a lot of TDs and senators were surprised about how big a margin we had for a yes vote. A lot were surprised that their own constituencies in fact, voted yes, when they expected them not to do so.

‘In those propositions, and they were a liberal propositions, it was very clear to the public as to what would change if people voted yes.’ He said that it was therefore clear as to why those referendums were needed. He added: ‘We failed to explain to people in these referendums what would actually change in their lives and the lives of their family and friends and that’s crucially why I think people voted against.’

‘In politics, I say the more the merrier’