Last Friday we established Ireland’s newest political party, Renua Ireland, because our Republic urgently needs renewal. The old structures of our State have failed us and have lost the confidence of our citizens. They have delivered us recessions, emigration, the arrival of the Troika and have rattled our faith in the political process. It is time for change.
We were promised a democratic revolution which would change how we run the State, so that this devastation could never happen again. Sadly this commitment to transform the apparatus of the State has been abandoned by all of the mainstream political parties. We consider it our duty to offer the Irish people a genuine alternative at the next election.
This party will have a fresh approach to politics. It will be inclusive of all and open to anyone who wants to make a difference.
We aim through idealism and volunteerism to offer a viable alternative to the electorate at the next election.
We have a newly engaged citizen in Ireland. Theses citizens are finding their own way to contribute to society. They are standing up for what they believe in. They are active participants in the type of society they want to live in.
Positive change
The positive change that is happening in Ireland is happening from the ground up. It is happening on our sports fields, in voluntary organisations, in communities all over Ireland.
Politics needs to catch up. There is a need to liberate the country from a politics of broken promises, failed policies and inadequate structures. It is time to embrace a new form of politics. A style of politics that will inspire a different conversation, a real conversation; about the type of society we want for Ireland.
Renua Ireland is different in every way – in how we are formed and funded, in how we are rooted in ethical commitment, in how we will work to engage the empowered and engaged citizens of Ireland. Different in how we will go about affecting real change in this country.
Politics must be open- minded and tolerant of difference. We will achieve this through our open position on matters of conscience and our refusal to use such matters for political gain. Our position on such matters is open. We will never cast a member out because they are concerned about defending the right to life. This is genuinely different.
We are open to all to participate. We started a movement in January, which has been gaining traction ever since, with over 3,500 people signing up to get involved. We are open to new candidates from all walks of life. We invite participation from experts in their field to work with us in developing inventive policy in all spheres – education, housing, healthcare – all of the areas that matter to our citizens. We are open to ideas from the public, via our website or our forthcoming workshops around the country.
Renua Ireland is a party offering a politics people can participate in.
We are open in how we are funded and structured. We are open about the code of ethics and minimum standards we have all signed up to.
Renua Ireland offers a style of politics that is liberated from the burden of negativity and negative practice. We must engage on new terms, not just with the citizens of Ireland, but also the other agents of change in this country.
Other political parties, other institutions, the public sector are not the enemy, they are part of a shared future. We must close the door on political point scoring, short term gain and narrow-minded vision.
This is a modern, collaborative, open political party, designed for today.
This party stands for the renewal of the Republic through truth and effective leadership, enterprise within the public, private and social sectors.
We will show compassion and empower and assist the most vulnerable.
This party will champion and give a voice to the social entrepreneur, the self-employed and small and medium business owners and their employees. It is time to stop treating such groups as the enemy of the state and turn them into the fabric of all our communities.
The political system will be turned inside out and radically overhauled to ensure that it works for all citizens.
As part of our commitment to open government we will abolish cabinet confidentiality on all matters but a narrowly defined set of vital national security interests.
Free thinking and free speech will be encouraged to such an extent the party whip will only be imposed on finance issues, issues of allocation and motions of confidence.
Transformation will also be applied to local government which will be reformed to make governing more inclusive.
We will promote an entrepreneurial culture and free thinking in education.
Our party will have an ‘open book’ approach to party finances. This party will create a more inclusive society that celebrates diversity and gives priority to the most vulnerable.
We want to engage the citizens of Ireland in a new conversation about the type of society we are collaboratively building. Our vision is of a renewed Ireland.
This party believes in building a better society for all.
A society that offers opportunity, compassion and solidarity
A society that does not allow urban to succeed and rural to fail
A society that enables people to over-achieve at home, not just abroad.
A society that believes in the power of human inventiveness to overcome
The potential for this party is to inspire the people of Ireland to get involved in this party, in whatever way they choose. Join conversation about the type of society we want for ourselves and future generations.
We are building a party from the ground up and empowering a collective.
We have started this journey of policy development.
We collaborate, we listen, we adapt.
Volunteerism is central to the party.
We have 200 declared candidates. We have met over 1,000 people in the past eight weeks, including 500 volunteers, people who have put their hands up to offer support, their experience.
We are in this for the long haul. We ask the people of Ireland to join andmake their voices and their ideas heard. Only with positive engagement can we deliver the sort of open, accountable and thriving State that the men and women of 1916 imagined for the Irish people.