1st Independent Mayo campaign: TDs 'need to leave the ivory tower'
A new campaign has been launched to try and turn support for independent politicians into seats in the Dáil.
Community groups from Co Mayo have taken out an advertisement looking for independent candidates for the next General Election.
The '1st Independent Mayo' campaign says it will hold town hall meetings with independent hopefuls across the county, and then hold public meetings to decide which of them should run for election.
The ad lists requirements for potential Independent candidates, including "a positive personality with a strong sense of ethics" and "exceptional leadership and communications skills".
The ad also specifies that candidates "without current or previous affiliations" to any political groups are "particularly welcome".
Spokesperson for the campaign Eddie Farrell said: "It's a grassroots process. I mean there are too many politicians in the Dáil who think they can sit in their ivory tower up there and decide what's good for the rest of the country.
"I think a lot of them need to leave the ivory tower and get talking to the grassroots, rather than pontificating from Dublin."
