Philip Ryan: What does ‘Independent’ mean and do we need to rethink this?

Jackie Healy-Rae celebrates being elected to Castleisland LEA. Photo: Domnick Walsh

Philip Ryan

The Coalition parties have claimed victory in the local elections. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party spent the weekend parading around count centres congratulating each other on their successes. There has been less noise around the continuing rise of Independent candidates.

But who are all these non-party politicians set to play a major role in the operation of local government for the next five years? A rethink of what an Independent is may be needed before the country goes to the polls again.