Six Fine Gael 'rebels' are setting up a new political alliance - in what another of their colleagues says are the first moves towards setting up a new politicla party altogether.
Four TDs and two senators are setting up a 'Reform Alliance' which they hope will help them to earn speaking rights in the Dáil.
Five of the six were kicked out of Fine Gael's parliamentary party for voting against the abortion laws, on the basis that the party promised not to legislate for abortion in the last election.
However Brian Walsh - who also lost the whip when he opposed abortion - is choosing not to be part of the new alliance.
He says the rebels were right to oppose abortion, because that was an election promise - but says each of the six members is now opposing the party line on the Seanad:
Wicklow TD Billy Timmins says the group is a looser collective which simply hopes to better represent the voters who elected them:
