New Vision (electoral alliance)


New Vision was an electoral alliance of independent candidates formed to contest the 2011 Irish general election.
The formation of the group was announced at a meeting in Dublin organised by the economist David McWilliams on 31 January 2011. Eamonn Blaney, son of former Independent Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála and minister Neil Blaney, stated that he was launching "a movement called New Vision" and that the group would run candidates in the upcoming general election. He stated that New Vision already had the allegiance of "several strong Independents who will unite around four principles".
The group held a press launch on 9 February 2011 where they revealed the 19 candidates that had agreed to run under the New Vision label. Each candidate had committed to vote en bloc on four issues, but were free to campaign on other national and local issues as they wished. As well as Eamonn Blaney, prominent candidates were his brother MacDara, and Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.
The four core issues which each New Vision candidate agreed to support were described by the group as:
  1. The separation of bank debt and sovereign debt
  2. A viable strategy to create jobs
  3. The overhaul of politics and the public service
  4. A better deal for the country's natural resources.
The number of independent candidates in the New Vision alliance subsequently rose to 20.
A different political party called Fís Nua, which means "New Vision" in Irish, also ran candidates in the 2011 general election. Eamonn Blaney stated that he was "unaware of the existence" of Fís Nua when he registered the business and domain names for New Vision.

Results

The candidates in the New Vision alliance received the following votes at the 2011 general election. One candidate, Luke 'Ming' Flanagan was elected.
ConstituencyCandidateNotes
Cavan–MonaghanJohn McGuirk1,708Eliminated after second count
Cork EastPaul O'Neill1,056Eliminated after second count
Cork North-CentralPádraig O'Sullivan1,020Eliminated after sixth count
Cork South-CentralDavid McCarthy880Eliminated after fifth count
Cork South-WestDavid McInerney493Eliminated after first count
Cork South-WestPaul Doonan239Eliminated after first count
Donegal North-EastMacDara Blaney1,228Eliminated after fourth count
Donegal North-EastRyan Stewart203Eliminated after first count
Donegal South-WestAnn Sweeney255Eliminated after second count
Dublin North-EastEamonn Blaney1,773Eliminated after seventh count
Dublin North-WestMichael J Loftus217Eliminated after third count
Dún LaoghaireMick Crawford394Eliminated after third count
Kerry North–West LimerickMick Reidy357Eliminated after third count
Longford–WestmeathDavid D'Arcy159Eliminated after first count
LouthThomas Clare2,233Eliminated after eighth count
MayoMartin Daly893Eliminated after third count
Meath EastSharon Keogan1,168Eliminated after first count
Roscommon–South LeitrimLuke 'Ming' Flanagan8,925Elected on fourth count
Sligo–North LeitrimAlwyn Love779Eliminated after third count
Tipperary NorthBilly Clancy1,442Eliminated after second count