Lucinda Creighton has indicated she has no interest in talking to a Dublin-based Islamic scholar about joining her new party.
Dr Ali Selim of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Dublin has this week appealed to the Irish media not to republish cartoons that appeared in the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
He also condemned the extremists who were responsible for the murder of 12 people in the headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
Dr Selim, who has run as an Independent candidate in local elections, said he was interested in talking to Ms Creighton about the political party she is forming.
Responding to his comments, Ms Creighton indicated firmly she was not interested in him becoming a member.
She said freedom of speech went hand in hand with freedom of conscience which was a central principle of the new party.
“Anyone who feels the media should be curtailed from unfettered freedom has no place in our political party,” she said.
