A Fine Gael councillor for Howth-Malahide jumped ship today and announced he was joining RENUA Ireland.
Keith Redmond, who was elected as a councillor in Fingal in 2014, is a practicing dentist in Sutton and lives in Malahide.
Commenting on his decision to join RENUA Ireland, Mr Redmond said: ‘‘It was quite difficult. I have many friends in Fine Gael and there are many members of the party that I sincerely respect.
“I have, however, found it increasingly difficult to support a party which appears to be drifting ever further away from the radical reforming agenda that it put to the people in 2011’’.
Mr Redmond also said his decision to join RENUA Ireland was strongly influenced by the party’s flat tax policy which was unveiled earlier this week.
RENUA Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton welcomed the arrival of Mr Redmond.
“Developing strong RENUA Ireland representation on local authorities is a key political priority for us,” she said.