Saturday 25 January 2014 15.28 A crowd of 1,000 people are attending the Reform Alliance's national conference in Dublin today.
The alliance is made up of five former Fine Gael TDs and two Senators.
The group says it wants to find ways to improve both the political system and the economy.
It is calling today's event at Dublin's RDS a national conversation about the country's future.
Many will be watching to see if the talking could ultimately lead to the creation of a new political party.
They have insisted again today that this event at the RDS is not about establishing a new political party.
Dublin Bay North TD Terence Flanagan said it was a "listening exercise" and nothing more.
The Reform Alliance meeting is discussing the economy this afternoon.
Peter Mathews, TD, said all candidates running in the European Parliament elections should sign a pact promising to lobby for a €53bnn debt write down for the country.
Economist David McWilliams has told the gathering that there is no reason why the economy can not provide people with a decent standard of living.
The gathering first heard from broadcaster Tom McGuirk who said political patronage has to end.
Broadcaster Olivia O'Leary said it was worrying that there were so few women in the audience.
She said the gathering was the result of politicians expelled from Fine Gael over their opposition to abortion legislation.
While not agreeing with the stand they took, she said she would defend their right to take it.
There have been a range of views expressed by the crowd.
Some have called for a new political party while others advocated for a new electoral system.
The Reform Alliance's best known TD, Lucinda Creighton has said repeatedly that today's meeting is not about a new party.
Instead the alliance said it wants to reform politics, the economy and the health sector.
Debate over health reforms
There was much criticism of the health system in Ireland during the second part of the day's discussion.
Former president of the University of Limerick Dr Ed Walsh said that it was not a lack of resources that was causing difficulties in the health service.
He said that a restructuring of the system was needed.
Co-founder of the Blackrock Clinic Dr Jim Sheehan proposed that the new national children's hospital be built on a greenfield site in Blanchardstown.
He wants it built in Blanchardstown rather than at St James's Hospital as is currently planned.
Dr Sheehan received the biggest applause of the day following these remarks.
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