One of Laois independent TD's routes to Government role closed off

Laois independent TD Brian Stanley has not made it into the new group of non-party TDs who look odds on to be the third leg of a new Fianna Fáil Fine Gael coalition government.

The Regional Group was formed from the ashes of a group in the last Dáil known as the Regional Independents Group, which also included Seán Canney, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Verona Murphy and others.

It had its roots in a group that went into power with a Fine Gael-led minority Government in 2016 which was spearheaded Shane Ross. That Government was propped up by Fianna Fáil under a confidence and supply deal.

The eight TDs who that have signed up to the Regional Group are Sean Canney, Marian Harkin, Barry Heneghan, Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry, Kevin (‘Boxer’) Moran, Verona Murphy and Gillian Toole.

This leaves the Laois TD having to find a new technical group to join the Dáil or join another party. The TD has said he would speak to all groups in the Dáil that share his views and policies. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Brian Stanley with members of his family at the Laois general election count. Picture: Alf Harvey.

Options include Aontú, led by former Sinn Féin TD Peadar Toibin, the Rural Independents, which includes former Offaly Sinn Féin TD Carol Nolan or Indpependent Ireland. Less likely destinations are People Before Profit, Labour, the Social Democrats, the Greens or one of the big two parties.

The wounds between himself and Sinn Féin are unlikely to heal although his wife Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley remains a member.

Being part of a group in the Dáil is important to getting speaking rights and positions on committees.

The TD, who won the third seat in the new Laois constituency at the General Election, is away. The new Dáil is due to meet on December 18.