RENUA HAS REJECTED claims that it has been ripping off policies previously announced by Fianna Fáil.

Lucinda Creighton’s new political party has put out a number of policy documents in recent weeks in a bid to enhance its credibility in the run-up to the next general election.

At the weekend the Sunday Times reported on claims by Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary that two of these policy documents - on public procurement and the treatment of small businesses – were almost identical to his own party’s proposals in these areas.

But speaking outside Leinster House today, Renua’s deputy leader Billy Timmins shot back at Calleary.

Having been part of the construct of the last policies, and worked with some of our volunteers and staff on them, we actually weren’t even aware that Fianna Fáil actually had a policy in these areas.

Renua TDs Billy Timmins and Terence Flanagan and Senator Paul Bradford outside Leinster House today Source: TheJournal.ie

The Wicklow TD was speaking at the launch of a Renua policy on reforming the budgetary process.

Among other things, the party wants to enhance the powers of Oireachtas committees and empower the Fiscal Advisory Council to provide independent costing of other parties’ budget proposals.

Timmins admitted that some of the proposals were not completely new ideas. He added: “Fianna Fáil were in government for a long period of time.

I thought they would have had all their policies implemented. From our point of view we’re quite happy to see any policy, be it ours or others – if we believe it’s progressive – being implemented.

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He said other parties are “quite welcome” to take on Renua’s policies and “run with them”.

Later, Timmin said that coalition with Fianna Fáil after the next election is “not out of the question”. He jokingly added:

According to Dara Calleary sure we’re singing off there same hymn sheet, we’re doing a deal with them anyway!

Party leader Lucinda Creighton previously ruled out coalition with Micheál Martin’s party in an interview with TheJournal.ie: