New Vision was an electoral alliance of independent candidates formed to contest the 2011 Irish general election.
New Vision | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | None |
| Founded | February 2011 |
| Political position | Independent |
The formation of the group was announced at a meeting in Dublin organised by the economist David McWilliams on 31 January 2011. Eamonn Blaney, son of former Independent Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála and minister Neil Blaney, stated that he was launching "a movement called New Vision" and that the group would run candidates in the upcoming general election. He stated that New Vision already had the allegiance of "several strong Independents who will unite around four principles".[1]
The group held a press launch on 9 February 2011 where they revealed the 19 candidates that had agreed to run under the New Vision label. Each candidate had committed to vote en bloc on four issues, but were free to campaign on other national and local issues as they wished. As well as Eamonn Blaney, prominent candidates were his brother MacDara, and Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.[2][3][4]
The four core issues which each New Vision candidate agreed to support were described by the group as:[2]
- The separation of bank debt and sovereign debt
- A viable strategy to create jobs
- The overhaul of politics and the public service
- A better deal for the country's natural resources.
The number of independent candidates in the New Vision alliance subsequently rose to 20.[5][6]
A different political party called Fís Nua, which means "New Vision" in Irish, also ran candidates in the 2011 general election.[1][7] Eamonn Blaney stated that he was "unaware of the existence" of Fís Nua when he registered the business and domain names for New Vision.[2]
Results
editThe candidates in the New Vision alliance received the following votes at the 2011 general election. One candidate, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan was elected.[8]
| Constituency | Candidate | 1st Pref. votes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan–Monaghan | John McGuirk | 1,708 | Eliminated after second count |
| Cork East | Paul O'Neill | 1,056 | Eliminated after second count |
| Cork North-Central | Pádraig O'Sullivan | 1,020 | Eliminated after sixth count |
| Cork South-Central | David McCarthy | 880 | Eliminated after fifth count |
| Cork South-West | David McInerney | 493 | Eliminated after first count |
| Paul Doonan | 239 | Eliminated after first count | |
| Donegal North-East | MacDara Blaney | 1,228 | Eliminated after fourth count |
| Ryan Stewart | 203 | Eliminated after first count | |
| Donegal South-West | Ann Sweeney | 255 | Eliminated after second count |
| Dublin North-East | Eamonn Blaney | 1,773 | Eliminated after seventh count |
| Dublin North-West | Michael J Loftus | 217 | Eliminated after third count |
| Dún Laoghaire | Mick Crawford | 394 | Eliminated after third count |
| Kerry North–West Limerick | Mick Reidy | 357 | Eliminated after third count |
| Longford–Westmeath | David D'Arcy | 159 | Eliminated after first count |
| Louth | Thomas Clare | 2,233 | Eliminated after eighth count |
| Mayo | Martin Daly | 893 | Eliminated after third count |
| Meath East | Sharon Keogan | 1,168 | Eliminated after first count |
| Roscommon–South Leitrim | Luke 'Ming' Flanagan | 8,925 | Elected on fourth count |
| Sligo–North Leitrim | Alwyn Love | 779 | Eliminated after third count |
| Tipperary North | Billy Clancy | 1,442 | Eliminated after second count |
Political careers after New Vision
editLuke Ming Flannagan the only successful candidate in the general election went on to be elected as an independent MEP, for North-West in 2014 and re-elected in 2019. Padraig O'Sullivan was elected as a Fianna Fáil candidate to the Dáil in the 2019 Cork North Central by-election, he was re-elected in the 2020. Sharon Keogan was elected to the Seanad in 2020 as an independent.
References
edit- ^ a b McGreevy, Ronan (1 February 2011). "New Vision of informed Independents emerges at meeting held by McWilliams". The Irish Times (subscription required).
- ^ a b c Cullen, Paul; O'Halloran, Marie (10 February 2011). "New Vision tells of public anger". The Irish Times (subscription required).
- ^ "New independent political group launches candidates". Newstalk. 9 February 2011.
- ^ "Election Live - 9 February". RTÉ News. 9 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ "2011 General Election Candidates by Party: New Vision". irishpoliticians.com. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ "Constituencies". New Vision. Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
- ^ McInerney, Sarah (20 February 2011). "We're Not Fís Nua, We're New Vision". Sunday Times. p. 14.
- ^ "Verdict 2011 (Election Results Supplement)". The Irish Times (subscription required). 28 February 2011.