Let's get the party started

Ireland is banjaxed but who's going to fix it? If you reckon you could do a better job of running the country than the current government, here is Hot Press' handy, seven-step guide to building your very own political party.

Valerie Flynn, 19 Aug 2010

Summer 2010 is proving a popular time for political make-and-do. In hotel function rooms around the country, disparate groups of disaffected people have been meeting with a view to taking Dáil Éireann by storm.

There's form. In the 1940s, the disillusionment caused by high unemployment, and dissatisfaction with years of Fianna Fáil government, lead to the establishment of Noel Browne's Clann na Poblachta. It was reasonably successful at the ballot box and got into a coalition government in 1948 (and then imploded, but that's another story).

The current crop of new groupings has a range of agendas, spanning the political spectrum (One mission statement declares: "The party places itself under the protection and guidance of Our Lady").

First up, there's Fís Nua ('new vision'), founded last month by former Green Party members who left that party for various reasons to do with the ongoing alliance with Fianna Fáil. Former Green MEP Patricia McKenna is involved, but she is "taking a back seat."

Then there's Direct Democracy Ireland, which wants the people consulted, through referendum, on all aspects of running the country, and would allow voters to sack crap TDs. Meanwhile, an as yet unnamed group based in the South East is planning to replace both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

The Irish People's Party, formed last year, has a pro-life, anti-Europe agenda (hopefully Our Lady is down with that). And speaking of the further reaches of the right, there are rumours that former Progressive Democrats leader and Tánaiste Michael McDowell is planning to form a new party of his own.

So, are you angry at the state of the nation? Out of work with too much time on your hands and already been to see Inception twice? Safety scissors, egg cartons and ruthless ambition at the ready, kids, here's everything you need to know about creating your own political party from scratch.

STEP 1: THE NUMBERS

You need at least 300 members over the age of 18 to register as a political party. So far, Direct Democracy Ireland has 60 and Fís Nua has 100. The standard, rather old-fashioned practice is to hold public meetings where people can sign up. You can skip this step if you have a current TD or MEP on board.

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