Eddie Hobbs says his new party has left-wing targets - using right-wing economics.

The financial journalist is joining Lucinda Creighton to form a new political party, which is being launched in around eight weeks time.

Plans for the party were formally unveiled today.

The founders claim they want a minimum standard of living for everyone in Ireland, while also supporting entrepreneurs.

Speaking to Tara Duggan on Newstalk's The Right Hook this evening, Eddie Hobbs was also very clear about keeping public sector wages in check:

Lucinda Creighton says everyone in Ireland will be able to vote for a candidate from the new party at the next election.

It is now 18 months since Ms Creighton left the Fine Gael parliamentary party; and despite saying at the time she was "Fine Gael to her core", today she unveiled her plans to start a new party that will compete against Fine Gael at the next election.

The party to be launched later in the spring does not yet have a name, but it does have a hashtag - summarising its ambition to 'reboot ireland'.

Ediie Hobbs was part of today's launch | Image: Photocall

The involvement of Mr Hobbs is to ensure the party has a pro-business slant - but it also aims, in its own words, to "make the public sector public".

And alongside the unsurprising promises of political reform, it also hopes to have a clear social conscience - promising it will measure government with a "clear social target" and to be a strong voice representing rural Ireland.

The timeline is still loose, but Deputy Creighton says the new party will be launched in the spring with a series of meetings around the country before then.

The party will have four major policy platforms - but says its members will not be under a party whip for votes on "matters of conscience", like same-sex marriage.

Deputy Creighton told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk that her party wants to see big changes - and that anybody can join.

She also said nobody will have to leave her new party on issues of conscience.

But she is not the only one with party aspirations - Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said last month that he wanted to start a new party.

It is believed the Roscommon-South Leitrim TD plans on running 25 candidates in the next election.

On Newstalk Lunchtime, Independent TD for Dublin North–Central Finian McGrath discussed Lucinda Creighton's announcement, and said "I don't think she's going to get many independent TDs. From talking to Shane Ross he seems to be getting a massive reaction from independent councillors":

The government are mandated to go to the people in April 2016 - but there is speculation that one could be called before then.

Originally posted at 12.33pm