Murphy says momentum building behind Social Democrats

Social Democrats founding member Catherine Murphy has said momentum is building behind her party’s “honest politics” platform as the election campaign passes its halfway point.

She said a “very good” performance by fellow leader Stephen Donnelly in the RTÉ debate hosted by Claire Byrne on Monday night was an “asset” for the new party.

“Despite the fact that we’ve no money to do the focus group stuff, we’re right on the money on the public mood and that’s part of the reason why we’re getting support,” Ms Murphy said.

“Lots of our candidates are doing really well so we’re very hopeful and our momentum is building there.”

RTÉ’s latest poll of polls showed the Social Democrats at four per cent, ahead of other small parties AAA-PBP, Renua and the Greens.

“We think we are very close to what the public mood is,” Ms Murphy added. Questioned about possible coalition options, Ms Murphy said the Social Democrats were not ruling any party in or out.

She said she had never experienced an election campaign like the one that is ongoing, which she described as “thoughtful” in contrast to the “grieving” tone of the 2011 campaign.

“We have a different type of approach to politics. It has to be honest politics, we have to have a strong economy and we have to have a fair society,” she said.

“And if it’s a question that those three are not available in relation to a government then that government is not going to do the things that we want it to do.”

A third prominent TD, Róisín Shortall, joined Ms Murphy and Mr Donnelly to form the Social Democrats in July 2015.

The party unveiled its political reform plans on Tuesday, calling for transparency in relation to senior appointments and the establishment of an anti-corruption agency.

An Irish electoral commission should be established and “meaningful” Oireachtas reforms introduced.

The party is also calling for a “rebalancing” of political funding, arguing that the current system of distributing State funds based on party support benefits the status quo.

The party’s plans for political reform were praised at the event by guest speaker Prof David Farrell, who holds the chair of politics at UCD.

He said the publication of manifestos indicated that some parties seemed to be taking political reform seriously.

“And right up there, I have to say, are the Social Democrats. I think they have some really rather good proposals.”

Prof Farrell singled out the idea that State funding of TDs should follow a deputy if he or she leaves a party, rather than remaining with the party.

“That’s a rather interesting way to think about loosening the party whip. I think that should be explored with some interest.”