Independent TD Catherine Murphy is refusing to be drawn on whether she is going to start a new political party.

It was reported this week that Deputy Murphy and fellow Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly and Roisin Shorthall, will be forming a new centre-left party.

According to the reports, Senators Katherine Zappone and Jillian van Turnhout are also set to sign up.

The new grouping would compete with Lucinda Creighton's recently established Renua party, and an as yet unformed alliance of independent TDs and councillors being organised by Shane Ross.

It is believed the party will be established by the end of the month.

However Catherine Murphy is remaining tight lipped on the subject: