Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton has said she is the victim of a "dirty tricks campaign" and that she had been told by that there was a plan at senior levels in another party to try to "smear" her.
Launching the party's crime policy today, she described an anonymous complaint to the Standards in Public Office commission (SIPO) about her as "false and baseless" and said that SIPO had been put in an "invidious position".
She said she had contacted the Standards in Public Office commission and is due to speak to them again tomorrow, adding that she intends to ask the commission to consider the matter so her name can be cleared.
The Renua leader and former Fine Gael junior minister said 18 months ago, she was made aware that "this was coming down the tracks" when she was told that there was a plan to try to "smear" her through SIPO.
She said it never materialised until Friday, and described it as "a cheap shot".
#Renua leader @LCreighton describes anonymous complaint about her to #SIPO as false & baseless #GE16 pic.twitter.com/OjLjUotGBn
— Ailbhe Conneely (@AilbheConneely) February 14, 2016
The Renua leader said SIPO confirmed that a "frivolous complaint" had been made about her six months ago, which SIPO had dismissed.
She said a second complaint was made two days after the election was called, which she said was "leaked by the complainant and the people involved" to the Sunday Independent.
She said she had been assured by SIPO that no evidence had been furnished and the complaint would be dismissed again.
She added that "any attempt to use a body, which has behaved impeccably and done great service to the State, as part of a political dirty tricks campaign is morally bankrupt".
She continued: "The cowardly politics of the anonymous letter and the poisoned pen will not prevail."
On the issue of crime, Ms Creighton said Renua Ireland was the only party taking a stance on law and order in the election.
She said the party was alarmed at the lack of urgency by the Government in respect of gangland crime. She accused the Cabinet of failing to respond to the recent shootings in Dublin and claimed that Renua's policy around "three strikes" will mean serious criminals will be taken off the streets on a permanent basis.
She said the party is proposing the criminal justice legislation be amended to allow judges set out minimum life sentences. Renua is also proposing to tackle white collar crime and make parents take responsibility for serial offending by their children.
The Renua Ireland leader also said that returning power and control to local communities is a red-line principle for the party. She said Renua Ireland plans to restore town councils, which will be elected by a ballot and would not involve remuneration.
She also said that "there is a glaring gap in regulation and resources for early childhood education" and the party pledged to implement strong regulation and a standard learning curriculum for creches.
Meanwhile, Renua Ireland deputy leader Billy Timmins has said it is time to cut motor users a break. He said his party pledged to abolish the motor tax and replace it with a simple levy on fuel.
Renua estimated that the levy would be ten cent per litre. Hauliers and PSVs would have a ceiling for their activities so that they are not unduly penalised by the new system.
It is anticipated that, on an initial basis, moving to a levy will cost the State €250m.
